Supportmycomputer.com - Glossary of Computer Terms - Free computer help to find and fix computer problems.

FREE COMPUTER HELP AND SUPPORT

WWW.SUPPORTMYCOMPUTER.COM

Find:

Support My Computer Menu

This is a database of Computer Terms in common use.

The database is in alphabetical order.
Click here to help speed up your search.

AB CD EFGH IJKLM NOPQ RST UVWXYZ

IBM 360	The first third-generation computer
Icon	A small figure on the computer screen that represents a computer activity
IEEE parallel port	An electrical connector that transmits 9 bits simultaneously along 9 or more wires
Imbedded formatting	The use of "hidden" print-control characters that do not appear on a visual display screen to plan the placement and appearance of output in a word processing document
Impact printer	A printer that forms characters by physically striking the paper
Independent variables	Inputs to a model, so called because they can be changed
Index (in a data base)	A table of record keys for a data-base file and a location entry indicating where the associated record for each key can be found
Index files	Files that allow the same data to be presented in different sequential orders
Indexed file organization	Combination of sequential and direct file organization
Indexed sequential access method (ISAM)	A method of file organization in which records are stored sequentially but the location of these records is stored in one or more indexes
Information	Processed data; data that is organized, meaningful, and useful
Initialize	To set the starting values of certain program variables
Ink Jet printer	A serial, non-impact printer that forms characters by spraying a very fine jet of magnetically charged ink through a nozzle
Instruction time (I-time)	The portion of one machine cycle required by the supervisory-control unit of a CPU to fetch an instruction from primary memory and decode the instruction
Integrated circuit	A complete electronic circuit on a small chip of silicon
Internal modem	A modem on a circuit board that can be installed in a computer by the user
Internet	The global network through which computers communicate. The internet includes the World Wide Web, Usenet user groups and newsgroups.
Interpreter	A program that translates and executes high-level languages on instruction at a time
Interrupt	Condition that causes normal program processing to be suspended temporarily
Intranet	A private network of computers. There are many intranets scattered all over the world. Some are connected to the Internet via gateways.
I-time	The instruction portion of the machine cycle
Job control language (JCL)	A special programming language that programmers use to communicate with a computer's operating system
Joy stick	A graphics input device that allows fingertip control on a CRT screen
Key	Unique identifier for a record
Keyboard	A common input device similar to the keyboard of a typewriter
Kilobyte	A thousand bytes.
Kilobyte (KB)	1024 bytes or 8192 bits
Labels (in spreadsheets)	Headings, row titles, and other alphabetic text in a spreadsheet
LAN	Local area network
Laptop	Portable computer as powerful as a desktop system which can run for a short time on batteries.
Laser memory	A type of secondary storage that uses a pit etched in a plastic medium by a laser
Laser printer	A printer that uses a light beam to transfer images to paper
LCD	(Liquid Crystal Display) Type of monitor where each pixel on the screen is displayed by a specific set of liquid crystal cells.
Letter-quality printer	A printer, such as a daisy wheel, ink jet or laser printers, that produces high-quality output
Light pen	A graphics input device that allows the user to interact directly with the computer screen
Line printer	A printer that assembles all characters on a line at one time and prints them out practically simultaneously
Liquid crystal display (LCD)	The flat display screen found on laptop computers
LISP (LISt Processing)	A language designed to process nonnumeric data; popular for writing artificial intelligence programs
Local area network (LAN)	A network designed to share data and resources among several computers
Logic function	A predefined spreadsheet formula that is normally used to test data for a specific condition -- for example, an IF test
Logic operations	The ability to compare two pieces of data to determine if they are equal or which is larger
Logical file	A conceptual file that satisfies the data requirements of an application program (i
Logical operations	Comparing operations
Logical record	A record written by an applications program
LOGO	A language developed at MIT by Seymore Papert that features commands that move a "turtle" on the CRT screen
Looping	The process of executing the same instructions over and over
Low-level programming language	A computer programming language such as machine language or assembly language requiring instructions to be written at a very detailed, hardware-dependent level
Machine cycle	Combination of I-time and E-time
Machine language	The lowest level of language that represents information as 1s and 0s
Macro instructions (in spreadsheets)	A mini-program or sets of spreadsheet instructions that enable users to avoid repetitive keystrokes when constructing or manipulating a spreadsheet
Magnetic disk	An oxide-coated disk on which data is recorded as magnetic spots
Magnetic-ink character recognition	A method of machine-reading characters made of magnetized particles
Mail merge	A word processing option that enables users to merge the variable information (such as name and address information) of one file with the standard information of a memo, letter, or other document stored in a second file
Mailing list	A computerized file of names and addresses that is used to distribute printed documents
Mainframe computer	A fully configured computer intended for substantial, high-volume data processing
Megabyte	A million bytes.
Megabyte (MB or M)	One million bytes of computer storage
Megahertz	Millions of cycles per second -- a measure of the processing speed of a microprocessor
Memory	The electronic circuitry that temporarily holds data and program instructions needed by the CPU
Menu	A set of processing choices displayed on a computer display screen
Menu-driven	Systems that give users of video terminals a list of selections and prompts from which to make choices
microchip	A tiny wafer of silicon containing miniature electric circuits that can store millions of bits of information.
Microcomputer	The smallest and least-expensive computer
Microprocessor	A chip in a microcomputer that contains the arithmetic/logic and control functions
Microsecond	One millionth of a second
Microwave	High-frequency radio waves that can transmit data signals up to 40 miles
MIME	(Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions). The standard for attaching binary files to e-mail messages, allowing audio, video, graphics, word-processor documents etc. to be attached to e-mails
Minicomputer	A computer that is larger than a microcomputer and less powerful than a mainframe computer
MIPS	MIPS stands for millions of instructions per second -- a method of measuring the computational speed of microprocessor chips
Modem	(MOdulator, DEModulator) A device that connects a computer to a phone line and allows the computer to communicate with other computers through the phone system.
Modem	A data communications device standing for "modulator-demodulator" and which translates digital signals into analog ones (and vice versa)
Modulation	The process of converting a signal form digital to analog
Monitor	A video display screen commonly used with microcomputers and graded by its display size, display resolution, graphics capabilities, and ability to display outputs in a single color (monochrome) or several colors
Monochrome	A computer screen that displays information in only on color on a black or dark background
Mother board	The major physical connector for the expansion slots of a microcomputer and also the electronic components into which cards are installed
Mouse	A small box with a round ball on the bottom and one or more depression-switches on the top
MPEG	(Moving Pictures Expert Group). An international standard for video compression and desktop movie presentation.
MS-DOS	A disk operating system developed for microcomputers by Microsoft, Inc
Multiplexer	A data communications device that allows several users to share communication channels
Multitasking	A microcomputer or operating system's ability to perform several tasks concurrently -- for example, through the use of several active onscreen "windows"