COMPUTER TERMINOLOGY 01. Access: To store or retrieve data 02. Add-on: Circuits, systems, or hardware devices that can be attached to a computer to increase its memory or improve its performance 03. Application: A system, such as a payroll, that has been defined to be suitable for electronic data processing techniques 04. Archived file: A file that has been transferred to a lower level in the memory hierarchy, usually from magnetic disc to magnetic tape, may be as a result of operations of appropriate resource management 05. Array: A group of two or more logically related elements identified by a single name; generally stored in consecutive storage locations in main memory 06. Audit trail: A permanent record of every transaction taken by a computer system, indicating for example, when users log in and out, what transaction they perform, when files are accessed and the type of access. Examination of this record provides a way of observing patterns of security violation and/or serves as a deterrent to violations 07. Availability: The ratio of time a device is operating correctly to the total scheduled time for operating 08. Back office operations: Operation that does not involve direct interaction with customers 09. Back up: A resource that is, or can be used as a substitute when a primary resource fails or when a file has been corrupted 10. Bar code: A printed machine readable code that consists of parallel bars of varied width and spacing. The application most commonly observed is the coding on food and goods that is read at the checkout and translated into a line of print on the bill showing product and cost 11. Batch processing: A method of organizing work for a computer system, designed to reduce overheads by grouping together similar jobs 12. Bit: Contraction of binary digit 13. Bug: An error or mistake in a programme 14. Byte: A group of consecutive bits forming a unit of storage in the computer and used to represent one alphanumeric character; a byte usually consists of 8 bits but may contain more a fewer bits depending on the model of computer 15. Character: An alphabetic letter, a digit or a special symbol 16. Chip: A small section of a single crystal of semiconductor usually silicon, that forms the substrate upon which is fabricated a single semiconductor device or all the individual devices comprising an integrated circuit 17. Configuration: The particular hardware elements and their interconnection in a computer system for a particular period of operation 18. Debug: To trace and correct errors in programming code or hardware malfunctions in a computer system 19. Downtime: The percentage of time that a computer system is not available for use 20. Dummy: An artificial instruction, address etc. used only to fulfill specification in a programme but not actually performing a function 21. Duplex channel: A communication channel that allows data to be transmitted in both directions simultaneously 22, Encoder: A small table-top electronic machine which is a combination of electronic typewriter and calculator – functions: encode numeric data in the MICR in desired font; print a listing of amounts of all instructions with batch/grand totals; zero-proofing place clearing endorsement, stamp on the reverse of instruments 23. Image: A copy in memory of data that exists elsewhere 24. Interface: A common boundary between two systems, devices or programmes 25. Lock: A key or other group of characters that allows access to specified storage locations or software systems 26. Log-in: To enter the necessary information like personal identification number – PIN and/or password to begin a session on a terminal 27. Menu: The list of options may be displayed with a sign code opposite each. The selection may then be made by keying the single code. The method provides simple way of guiding a user through a complex situation by presenting a sequence of simpler decisions 28. Main memory: Storage located in the computer for programmes, along with their data, while they are being executed 29. MICR: Abbreviation for magnetic ink character recognition. A process in which data printed in ink containing ferromagnetic particles is read by magnetic read heads 30. Modem: Acronym for modulator demodulator – a device that converts digital data output from another device into analog data that can be transmitted over communication lines or vice versa. 31. OCR: Abbreviation for Optical Character Recognition 32.Output device: A device that can provide for only the output of data, such as a printer or card punch 33.Password: A group of characters by which a user is uniquely identified, when logging on to a terminal or when submitting a programme for execution 34. Real Time: The time that passes on an ordinary clock 35. Scan: To examine sequentially all the records in a file in order to find those whose keys meet a specified criterion 36. Soft Copy: Output that is displayed on the screen of a video display unit 37. SWIFT: Society for Worldwide Inter-bank Financial Telecommunication 38. VDU: Abbreviation for Visual Display Unit 39. Bandwidth: How much stuff you can send through a connection. Usually measured in bits per second 40.Beta: Preliminary or testing stage of a software or hardware product: “a beta version”; “beta software” 41. BIOS: Stands for Basic Input/Output system: The BIOS is responsible for booting the computer by providing a basic set of instructions 42. Binary: This is a basic system of numbering using ones and zeros 43. Blue tooth: Radio technology that connects electronic devices without using a cable. Data and voice can be exchanged at ranges of up to 10 meters without the need for devices to be lined up together 44. Boot disk: A diskette from which you can boot your computer 45. Buffer: A place, especially in RAM, for the temporary storage of data for the purpose of speeding up an operation such as printing or disk access 46. Browser: It is a software used for viewing pages on the web 47. Bus: A collection of wires through which data is transmitted from one part of a computer to another 48. Catche: A special block of fast memory used for temporary storage of data for quick retrieval 49. CD-ROM: Compact Disc Read Only Memory – an optical storage medium that can hold about 700 MB of data and is accessed with lasers 50. CGA: Stands for Color Graphics Adapter: CGA allowed a maximum of four colours at a resolution of 320 x 200 or two colours at 640 x 200. 51. Clock Speed: The clock speed is the frequency which determines how fast devices that are connected to the system bus operate. The speed is measured in millions of cycles per second 52. Clustering: A technique in which two or more servers are interconnected and can access a common storage pool 53. CMOS: Abbreviation of complementary metal oxide semiconductor. Pronounced seemoss; CMOS is widely used type of semiconductor 54. COBOL: Common Business Oriented Language 55. CPU: Central Processing Unit – It interprets and carries out instructions, performs numeric computations, and controls the peripherals connected to it 56. Data bus: A group of parallel conductors found on the motherboard that is used by the CPU to send and receive data from all the devices in the computer. 57. Data mining: Sorting through data to identify patterns and establish relationships 58. DDR: Stands for “Double Data Rate” 59. Decoder: A circuit or device that restores a coded signal to its original form based on knowledge of the process used to code the signal 60. Decryption: It is the process of converting encrypted data back into its original form, so that it can be understood 61. Dedicated line: It is a phone line meant specifically for one thing, like being attached to a computer 62. Demodulation: It is the process of converting analog information into digital information 63. DLL: Dynamic Link Library 64. DNS: Domain Name Server – it is the system used on the internet for maping names to the actual numerical addresses of machines on the Internet 65. DOS: Disc Operating System 66. Domain name: A name that identifies one or more IP addresses 67. Driver: A program that controls a device. Every device, whether it can be a printer, disk drive, or keyboard must have one driver program 68. EBCDIC: Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code 69. Email: Stands for electronic mail. It is a system of relaying messages across the Internet from one internet user to another 70. Encryption: It is the process of converting data into “unreadable code” so that unauthorized people cannot understand the contents 71. Ethernet: A networking system that enables high speed data communication over coaxial cables 72. Executable file: A file in a format that the computer can directly execute 73. FAQ: Frequently asked questions 74. GUI: Graphical User Interface 75. FTP: File transfer protocol 76. HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language 77. HTTP: Stands for Hyper Text Transport Protocol 78. Icon: A small video display that acts as an activation link when clicked on 79. ISP: Internet service provider 80. ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network 81. Java: A high level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems 82. LAN: a computer network that spans a relatively small area 82. LCD: Abbreviation of liquid crystal display, a type of display used in digital watches and many portable computers 83. Linux: A version of UNIX that runs on a variety of hardware platforms. It is open source software, which is freely available 84. Kilobyte: This is about thousand bytes of space. It is two to the 10th power of 1024 bytes 85. MPEG: Motion Picture Experts Group 86. Peer to Peer: A type of network in which each workstation has equivalent capabilities and responsibilities 87. Pen drive: A small device that can be used to easily transfer files between USB-compatible systems 88. Processor: A processor is a device that processes programmed instructions and performs tasks 89. RAM: Random Access Memory 90. ROM: Read Only Memory 91. Serial Port: A port or interface that can be used for serial communication, in which only 1 bit is transmitted at a time 92. SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol 93. Spam: This is to transmit unwanted messages, usually over email, to a great many people 94. SLIP: Serial Line Interface Protocol 95. Switch: In networks, a device that filters and forwards packets between LAN segments. LANs that use switches to join segments are called switched LANs or, in the case of Ethernet networks, switched Ethernet LANs 96. WWW: World Wide Web 97. Virus: A program or piece of code that is loaded into the computer without the knowledge of the computer user and runs against the wishes of the user 98. WAN: Wide Area Network 99. Weblog: This is publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Similar to a personal diary, but shared over the web. The activity of updating a blog is “blogging” and someone who keeps a blog is called as a “blogger” 100.ZIP: Stands for Zone Information Protocol. This is an application that allows for the compression of application files
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 07:16:08 +0000
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