7841089
Description
Flashcards by Jia CHEONG, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Jia CHEONG
about 8 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Accumulator | A register in the CPU that stores data currently being used by the CPU |
| ACID | A set of rules that protects a database from errors during a transaction |
| Acutuator | A device to produce physical movement based on output from a computer system |
| Address | A location in main memory used to store data or instructions |
| Algorithm | A series of steps designed to solve a mathematical or other problem |
| ALU | The ALU performs all the arithmetic and logical operations within the CPU |
| Analogue | Refers to continuously changing values |
| Applet | A small application that performs one specific task |
| Application | Software designed to carry out a useful real-world task |
| ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) | 7-bit system to code the character set of a computer |
| Assembler | Software that translates assembly language code to machine code |
| Assembly language | A low-level programming language that uses more memorable mnemonic codes and labels to represent machine-level code. Each instruction corresponds to just one machine operation |
| Assignment | Setting the value of a variable |
| Attribute | A characteristic of an entity. It becomes a field in a data table |
| Auto documentation | System that tracks variables, modules and comments for maintenance purposes |
| Bar code | A pattern of thin and thick lines representing a number that can be scanned by a reader for input into a computer system |
| Binary | A system of numbers using only 2 digits, 0 and 1 (also called the base-2 system), unlike the decimal (or denary) system in everyday use that uses 10 digits (base-10) |
| Bit | Binary digit 1 or 0 |
| Bit rate | The space available for each sample, measured in kilobits per second (kbits/s). (128 kbits/ is 128 kilobits per second of sampled sound) |
| Boolean | A value that can only be true or false |
| Boolean algebra | A method for expressing mathematically a logic circuit) |
| Bus | A part of the computer architecture that transfers data and signals between the components of the computer |
| Byte | 8 bits |
| Cache memory | Special high speed memory used by a computer |
| Camera | A device to capture still or moving images |
| CD | A type of optical device with a capacity of 700 MB |
| Character | A single alphabetic or numeric character |
| Character set | The characters available to a computer associated with a particular number |
| Client | Software or hardware that requests services from a server |
| Clock chip | The electronic device in a computer that controls the timing of signals |
| Code editor | Text area used to enter code in an IDE |
| Colour depth (or bit depth) | The number of bits used for each pixel or dot. The more bits the more colours that can be represented |
| Command line | The place where typed commands are given to the operating system |
| Comparison | Comparing the values of 2 items and returning TRUE or FALSE depending upon the result of that comparison |
| Complier | A translator that converts all of the source code to machine code in one go to produce the object code |
| Compression | Reduction in file size to reduce download times and storage requirements |
| Computer architecture | The internal, logical structure and organisation of the computer hardware |
| Concatenation | Combining 2 strings into a single string |
| Constant | A label referring to a location in memory containing a value that can be accessed but not changed by a program |
| Control unit | The control unit works with the CPU to control the flow of data within the system |
| CPU | Central processing unit of the computer containing the control unit, ALU and cache memory |
| Custom written | Software developed specially for one or a few customers |
| Data dictionary | The stored schema of a database |
| Data integrity | The state of data being as it should be, reflecting reality |
| Data redundancy | The unnecessary repetition of data |
| Debugger | Software that helps a programmer track down faults in a program |
| Decision | A flow diagram symbol used to show a decision stage, may be 'yes' or 'no' or multiple values |
| Declaration | Identifying a variable or constant or array to a program so that memory space can be allocated |
| Decode | An instruction is decoded by the CPU into 2 parts - the operator and the operand |
| Dedicated | Something which is designed for one particular purpose |
| Defragmenter | A utility that brings together file fragments on a disk and collects all the free space in one area |
| Denary | A system of numbers using 10 digits, 0 and 1 - 9 (also called the base-10 system) |
| Device driver | A program that enables communication etween a computer and a peripheral |
| Disk organisation | The process of arranging files and data bytes on a secondary storage device |
| Domain name | A human readable name for a resource on a network. It is changed to a numerical IP address by a DNS server |
| Dual-core/quad-core | A CPU with multiple processors |
| DVD | A type of optical device with a capacity of 4.7 GB |
| Editor | Software used for entering source code when writing a program |
| Embedded system | A computer system that forms part of an electronic device |
| Entity | Something that we store data about in a database |
| Entity relationship diagram | A diagram that shows how different entities used in a database are connected |
| Erroneous | Data that would not normally be expected such as the wrong data type |
| Error diagnostics | System to warn of errors in the code and potential problems |
| Extreme | Data that is at the extreme limit of valid or invalid to check boundary conditions |
| Failover | Automatic switching to a backup computer in the event of system failure |
| Fetch-execute cycle | The process of fetching the instructions from memory, decoding them and then executing them so that the CPU performs continuously |
| Field | A characteristic of something stored in a database |
| File | Stored data on suitable media |
| Firewall | Software and/or hardware that limits access to and from a computer system |
| Firmware | Software that is stored permanently in a device, such as control programs for devices |
| Flash memory | Solid-state memory used as low cost secondary storage in portable devices and as removable memory |
| Flat file database | Database consisting of only 1 table |
| Flow chart (flow diagram) | A diagrammatic method of showing the structure and data flow to define a problem and its solution |
| Gigabyte | 1024 megabytes |
| Graphical user interface | A user interface that makes use of icons for interacting with the user |
| Hexadecimal | The base-16 system |
| High-level language | A programming language that resembles a natural language. Each instruction translates to many machine instructions. It is problem based rather than machine based |
| HTML | Hypertext mark up language - a text based system for defining web pages |
| Hub | A device for connecting multiple network devices in one segment |
| Hyperlink | An item on a web page that directs the user to another location when clicked |
| Icon | A picture on screen that represents a file, a program or an action |
| Indexed sequential file | A sequential file that is accessed using an index, which is a separate file |
| Input device | A hardware device used to input data into a computer system for processing |
| Instructions | A set of commands that a processor can recognise and act upon |
| Integer | Whole number, positive or negative, with no decimal or fractional part |
| Integrated development environment (IDE) | Resources supplied with high-level languages to help the programmer |
| Interface | The boundary between systems or between systems and humans |
| Interpreter | Translation software that converts source code or user input into machine code which is immediately executed one instruction at a time |
| Interrupt | A signal to the operating system to stop what it is doing and perform a different task instead |
| Intranet | A private data resource using the same technology as the internet, such as browsers and protocols |
| Invalid | Data used to test a program that should be rejected because it is 'out of range' |
| IP address | A number that identifies a device on a TCP/IP network |
| Iteration or repetition | A group of instructions us executed repeatedly until a condition is met (a loop) |
| Kernel | The lowest level of an operating system that controls the hardware |
| Keyboard | A device that uses labelled keys to enable data input into a computer |
| Kilobyte | 1024 bytes |
| LAN | Local area network - confined to one location |
| Linker | Software that combines together a number of separate object code files |
| Logic circuit | A circuit made by combining a sequence of logic gates |
| Logic error | The logical structure of the program produces unexpected results |
| Logic gates | A circuit that produces an output based on the inputs |
| NOT | A logic gate that outputs the opposite value to the input |
| AND | A logic gate that outputs 1 if both inputs are 1 |
| OR | A logic gate that outputs 1 if either, or both, of the 2 inputs are 1 |
| Low-level language | A programming language that is directed at controlling each machine operation |
| Machine code | Instructions in binary used by the CPU |
| Magnetic bard disk | Secondary storage device using magnetised platters to store data and files |
| Megabyte | 1024 kilobytes |
| Metadata | Information about the image data that allows the computer to recreate the image from the binary data in the file. This mist contain the height and width in pixels and the colour depth in bpp (bits per pixel() |
| Microphone | A device for capturing sound |
| Monitor | A device that can display images and text |
| Motherboard | The central printed circuit board (PCB) that holds the crucial components of the system |
| Mouse | A device that controls the movement of a pointer on screen, based on its own movement, and allows the user to select an object by pressing a button |
| Nesting | Structures inside other structure |
| Nibble | 4 bits or half a byte |
| Non-volatile | Data retained even when power is turned off |
| Object code | The machine code produced by a complier |
| Off the shelf | Software that is aimed at many users and sold 'as is' |
| One to many | A relationship where one record in a table may have links to many records in another table |
| Operand | This is the part of the instruction that tells the CPU what to apply the operation to |
| Operating system | The software that controls the hardware. It acts as an interface between the user and the hardware and also between applications and the hardware |
| Operator (arithmetic and logic) | A logical, arithmetic or comparison operator used by the program |
| Operator (assembly language) | This is the part of the instruction that tells the CPU what to do |
| Optical disk | Secondary storage device using lasers to read (and write) data to a reflective surface.. For storing files to be distributed or transferred or for back up of important files |
| Overflow | When a number becomes too large to fit into the number of bits allocated, it is said to 'overflow' and some bits are 'lost', leaving an incorrect value |
| Portable document format - a file standard that displays a document accurately on any computer platform | |
| Peer-to-peer | a network arrangement where all computers are equal |
| Pixel | The smallest element of an image. Pixels are the dots that make the image on the screen |
| Platform | A combination of hardware and operating system that supports the running of particular applications |
| Pretty printer | An editor that automatically sets out program code in an easy to read way |
| Printer | A device to produce physical copies of output from a computer system |
| Process (flow chart) | A flow chart symbol that defines any processing to be completed at that stage |
| Process (program) | A program currently being executed |
| Program | A stored set of instructions for a computer to execute |
| Program counter | A register in the CPU that keeps the address of the next instruction |
| Programming language | A way of writing instructions for a computer to execute |
| Protocol | A set of rules or standards that controls communication between devices |
| Pseudocode | A method of describing an algorithm using structured English close to programming language |
| Random access memory (RAM) | Main memory of a computer that stores data, applications and the operating system whilst in use. When the power is turned off, RAM loses its data |
| Raster | Graphics format consisting of a matrix of dots |
| Read only memory (ROM) | A store for data in a computer that cannot be overwritten. Data in ROM is always available and is not lost when the computer is turned off |
| Real | A number that can have decimal or fractional parts |
| Record | All the data about one item in a database |
| Register | Special fast access part of the CPU that stores data in use by the CPU |
| Resolution | The number of pixels or dots per unit, for example ppi (pixels per inch), often referred to as dpi (dots per inch) |
| RFID | Radio frequency identification uses radio frequencies to represent a number that can be scanned for input into a computer system |
| Run time environment | Software to support the execution of programs |
| Sample rate | The number of times the sound is sampled per second, measured in Hz (100 Hz is 100 samples per second) |
| Schema | Definition of a database |
| Secondary storage | Non-volatile storage used to store programs and files that need to be kept even when the power is not on |
| Selection | The pathway through a program is selected by using a condition to decide on what instructions to execute next |
| Self-boosting | The ability of a program to load itself. Some small devices load their applications directly without the need for a conventional operating system |
| Sensor | A device that can detect physical conditions such as temperature, weight, light, sound etc |
| Sequence | A list of instructions to be carried out in order, one after the other |
| Sequential file | A serial file in order |
| Serial file | A file of items one after another |
| Server | Software that provides services to a client, or the hardware that is running |
| Shell | Software that provides a traditional text based interface to an operating system |
| Software | The programs that run on a computer |
| Software engineering | Formal methods to guide the writing of software |
| Sold state | Technology based on electronics with no moving parts, for example transistors and capacitors as used in memory chips |
| Source code | The program written by the end user in a high-level language before it is converted to machine code |
| Speaker | A device to output sound |
| Spyware | Malicious software that detects what a user is doing and sends the details back to the originator |
| String | A string of alphabetic and/or numeric characters |
| Switch | A device for connecting multiple network devices and multiple segments |
| Syntax error | The rules of a language are broken by the program |
| TCP/IP | Transmission control protocol/internet protocol - a set of standards that control how data is sent across networks including the internet |
| Terabyte | 1024 gigabytes |
| Touch screen | A touch sensitive surface that allows the user to select, control or move objects by touching icons and symbols using fingers |
| Trace | A method of using data to check that a flow chart covers all possibilities correctly |
| Translator | A program to convert high-level or assembly-level commands into machine code |
| Trojan | Harmful software that is disguised as something useful |
| Truth table | A method for recording all the possible input combinations and determining he output for each |
| Unicode | Up to 32-bit system to code the character set of a computer (usually 16-bit or 32-bit versions) |
| User interface | The boundary between the computer and the user |
| Utility | A small program designed to carry out a limited maintenance task |
| Valid | Data used in testing that represents normal data that could be expected |
| Validaion | The process of checking data as it is input to ensure that it is reasonable |
| Variable | A label referring to a location in memory containing a value that can be accessed or changed by a program |
| Verification | The process of checking that data is true and correct |
| Virtual memory | A section of the hard disk used as if it were RAM to supplement the amount of main memory to run the programs required |
| Virus detection | The process of discovering possibly harmful viruses in a computer system |
| Volatile | Data lost when there is no power |
| WAN | Wide area network - covers large geographical area |
| Web server | A server that handles requests to a website |
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