Computer Terminology
The following are terms that will help you communicate with technitions and other computer users. Feel free to ask for further explanation or examples of use.
active program or window - The application or window at the front (foreground) on the monitor.
application - a program in which you do your work.
bit - the smallest piece of information used by the computer. Derived from "binary digit". In computer language, either a one (1) or a zero (0).
backup - a copy of a file or disk you make for archiving purposes.
boot - to start up a computer.
byte - a piece of computer information made up of eight bits.
card - a printed circuit board that adds some feature to a computer.
CD-ROM - an acronym for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory.
control panel - a program that allows you to change settings in a program or change the way a PC looks and/or behaves.
CPU - the Central Processing Unit. The processing chip that is the "brains" of a computer.
crash - a system malfunction in which the computer stops working and has to be restarted.
cursor - The pointer, usually arrow or cross shaped, which is controlled by the mouse.
defragment - (also - optimize) to concatenate fragments of data into contiguous blocks in memory or on a hard drive.
directory – another term for a folder. The term directory came before folder.
disk - a spinning platter made of magnetic or optically etched material on which data can be stored.
disk drive - the machinery that writes the data from a disk and/or writes data to a disk.
document - a file you create, as opposed to the application which created it.
DOS - acronym for Disk Operating System - used in IBM PCs.
download - to transfer data from one computer to another. (If you are on the receiving end, you are downloading. If you are on the sending end, you are uploading).
drag - to move the mouse while its button is being depressed after clicking on an object.
drag and drop - a feature which allows one to drag the icon for a document on to another drive or directory (folder).
file - the generic word for an application, document, or other computer data.
floppy - a 3.5 inch square rigid disk which holds data. (so named for the earlier 5.25 and 8 inch disks that were flexible).
folder - an electronic subdirectory which contains files.
font - a typeface that contains the characters of an alphabet or some other letterforms.
gigabyte = 1024 megabytes.
hard drive - a large capacity storage device made of multiple disks housed in a rigid case.
highlight - to select by clicking once on an icon or by highlighting text in a document.
icon - a graphic symbol for an application, file or folder.
kilobyte - 1024 bytes.
MB - short for megabyte.
megabyte - 1,048,576 bytes or 1024 kilobytes.
memory - the temporary holding area where data is stored while it is being used or changed; the amount of RAM a computer has installed.
menu - a list of program commands listed by topic.
multi tasking - running more than one application in memory at the same time.
operating system - the system software that controls the computer.
optical disk - a high-capacity storage medium that is read by a laser light. CD and DVD are examples of optical disk.
partition - a subdivision of a hard drives surface that is defined and used as a separate drive.
paste - to insert text, or other material, from the clipboard or copy buffer.
peripheral - an add-on component to your computer.
RAM - acronym for Random-Access Memory.
root directory - the first or primary directory of a hard drive.
save - to write a file onto a disk.
save as - (a File menu item) to save a previously saved file in a new location and/or with a new name.
scroll - to shift the contents of a window to bring hidden items into view.
scroll bar - a bar at the bottom or right side of a window that contains the scroll box and allows scrolling.
shut down - the process to shut down the PC safely.
software - files on disk that contain instructions for a computer.
spreadsheet - a program designed to look like an electronic ledger.
upload - to send a file from one computer to another through a network.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)- a constantly charging battery pack which powers the computer. A UPS should have enough charge to power your computer for several minutes in the event of a total power failure, giving you time to save your work and safely shut down.
UPS - acronym for Uninterruptible Power Supply.
Disk Storage and
RAM capacity:
The following terms are usually used in the world of computing to describe disk
space, or data storage space, and system memory. For instance, just a few years
ago we were describing hard drive space using the term Megabytes. Today, Gigabytes
is the most common term being used to describe the size of a hard drive. In
the not so distant future, Terabyte will be a common term. But what are they?
According to the IBM Dictionary of computing, when used to describe disk storage capacity, a megabyte is 1,000,000 bytes in decimal notation. But when the term megabyte is used for real and virtual storage, and channel volume, 2 to the 20th power or 1,048,576 bytes is the appropriate notation.
• 1 Bit = Binary Digit
• 8 Bits = 1 Byte
• 1000 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte 1,024 bytes
• 1000 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte 1,048,576 bytes
• 1000 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte 1,073,741,824 bytes
• 1000 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte 1,099,511,627,776 bytes
• 1000 Terabytes = 1 Petabyte 125,899,906,842,624 bytes
• 1000 Petabytes = 1 Exabyte 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 bytes
If you were talking dollars here
are some examples of the zeros:
Million: 1,000,000
Billion: 1,000,000,000
Trillion: 1,000,000,000,000
Quintillion: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000
But how much is it in terms I can
understand?
10 Kilobytes: Page out of an encyclopedia
100 Megabytes: two encyclopedia volumes
20 Gigabytes: Audio collection of the works of Beethoven
2 Terabytes: Academic research library
2 Petabytes: All U. S. academic research libraries
5 Exabytes: All words ever spoken by human beings
So, if your new computer comes with a 600 gigabyte hard drive, do you think you have enough space to store all your pictures?