Comp101
Terms
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- HTML
- Short for HyperText Markup Language, the authoring language used to create documents on the World Wide Web. HTML defines the structure and layout of a Web document by using a variety of tags and attributes.
- CPU
- Abbreviation of central processing unit. The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the processor or central processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place.
- JPEG
- Short for Joint Photographic Experts Group. JPEG is a compression technique for color images. Although it can reduce files sizes to about 5% of their normal size, some detail is lost in the compression.
- Hard Disk Drives
- The mechanism that reads and writes data on a hard disk. Hard disk drives (HDDs) for PCs generally have seek times of about 12 milliseconds or less. Many disk drives improve their performance through a technique called caching.
- Keyboard
- The set of typewriterlike keys that enables you to enter data into a computer. Computer keyboards are similar to electrictypewriter keyboards but contain additional keys.
- Mouse
- A device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on a display screen.
- Operating System
- Also known as an "OS," this is the software that communicates with computer hardware on the most basic level. Without an operating system, no software programs can run.
- Download
- The term is often used to describe the process of copying a file from an online service to one's own computer. Downloading can also refer to copying a file from a network file server to a computer on the network.
- Motherboard
- The main circuit board of a microcomputer. The motherboard contains the connectors for attaching additional boards.
- Hardware
- Machinery and equipment (CPU, disks, tapes, modem, cables, etc.). In operation, a computer is both hardware and software. One is useless without the other. The hardware design specifies the commands it can follow, and the instructions tell it what to do.
- Resolution
- This term can describe either how many pixels a monitor can display or how fine a printer can print.
- GIF
- stands for graphics interchange format. It also includes data compression, but because it is limited to 256 colors, it is more effective for scanned images such as illustrations rather than color photos.
- MB
- short for megabyte MB represents 1,000,000 bytes.
- Cache
- Pronounced cash, a special highspeed storage mechanism. It can be either a reserved section of main memory or an independent highspeed storage device.
- Software
- An application that hold specific instructions for hardware functions.
- Disk Drive
- A machine that reads data from and writes data onto a disk. A disk drive rotates the disk very fast and has one or more heads that read and write data.
- Pixel
- The term "pixel" is actually short for "Picture Element." These small little dots are what make up the images on computer displays, whether they are flatscreen (LCD) or tube (CRT) monitors. The screen is divided up into a matrix of thousands or even millions of pixels.
- ROM
- (read-only memory) Computers almost always contain a small amount of
- KB
- Short for kilobyte. KB represents 1,000 bytes.
- USB Port
- Short for Universal Serial Bus, an external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps. A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices, such as mice, modems, and keyboards
- CD ROM
- Known by its abbreviation, CD, a compact disc is capable of storing digital information
- GB
- short for gigabyte. GB represents 1,000 MB
- Byte
- Abbreviation for binary term, a unit of storage capable of holding a single character
- Memory
- Internal storage areas in the computer.
- RAM
- acronym for random access memory. RAM is the most common type of
- Upload
- To transmit data from a computer to a, mainframe, or network. For example, if you use a personal computer to log on to a network and you want to send files across the network, you must upload the files from your PC to the network.