Basic Computer Terminology

The performance of a hard drive or other storage device - how long it takes to locate a file.

an icon that points to a file, folder or application.

a program in which you do your work.

part of the multitasking capability.

A program can run and perform tasks in the background while another program is being used in the foreground.

the smallest piece of information used by the computer.

Derived from "binary digit". In computer language, either a one (1) or a zero (0).

a copy of a file or disk you make for archiving purposes.

to start up a computer.

a programming error that causes a program to behave in an unexpected way.

an electronic pathway through which data is transmitted between components in a computer.

a piece of computer information made up of eight bits.

a printed circuit board that adds some feature to a computer.

the act of giving an instruction to your Mac either by menu choice or keystroke.

a program the converts programming code into a form that can be used by a computer.

a technique that reduces the size of a saved file by elimination or encoding redundancies,.

a system malfunction in which the computer stops working and has to be restarted.

The pointer, usually arrow or cross shaped, which is controlled by the mouse.

the act of stringing devices together in a series.

an electronic list of information that can be sorted and/or searched.

the plural of datum

information processed by a computer.

to concatenate fragments of data into contiguous blocks in memory or on a hard drive.

to convert linear, or analog, data into digital data which can be used by the computer.

a spinning platter made of magnetic or optically etched material on which data can be stored.

the machinery that writes the data from a disk and/or writes data to a disk.

a file you create, as opposed to the application which created it.

to transfer data from one computer to another.

a file on a computer which tells it how to communicate with an add-on piece of equipment (like a printer).

a protocol for fast communication and file transfer across a network.

the generic word for an application, document, control panel or other computer data.

a commonly used data format for exchanging information between computers or programs.

The breaking up of a file into many separate locations in memory or on a disk.

a system error which causes the cursor to lock in place.

a graphic symbol for an application, file or folder.

software used to install a program on your hard drive.

start an application.

the temporary holding area where data is stored while it is being used or changed

the amount of RAM a computer has installed.

running more than one application in memory at the same time.

the system software that controls the computer.

one billionth of a second.

a high-capacity storage medium that is read by a laser light.

a subdivision of a hard drives surface that is defined and used as a separate drive.

a connection socket, or jack on the computer.

to write a file onto a disk.

a port that allows data to be transmitted in a series (one after the other), such as the printer and modem ports on a computer.

a central computer dedicated to sending and receiving data from other computers.

files on disk that contain instructions for a computer.

to send a file from one computer to another through a network.

a constantly charging battery pack which powers the computer.

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.

acronym for Uninterruptible Power Source.

using part of your hard drive as though it were "RAM".

a large capacity storage device made of multiple disks housed in a rigid case.

to shift the contents of a window to bring hidden items into view.

an optical disk that can only be written to once

acronym for Write Once-Read Many.