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

UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer)	The first computer built for business purposes
Universal product code (UPC)	A code number unique to a product that is represented on the product's label in the form of a bar code
UNIX	A common operating system, popular for running servers on the Internet.
Update	Keeping files current by changing data as appropriate
Uploading data	The transfer of data from a small microcomputer or minicomputer to a larger minicomputer or mainframe computer
Upward compatibility	Old programs and data files that can also be run or read by new software releases or revisions
User friendly	Refers to software that is easy for a novice to use
Utility programs	Programs that perform routine file conversions and sort/merge operations
Vacuum tube	An electronic tube used as a basic component in the first generation of computers
Variable length	Refers to records containing different numbers of character
Video display terminal (VDT)	A terminal with a screen
Video graphics	Computer-produced animated pictures
Virtual memory or storage	A condition in which part of the program is stored on disk and is brought into memory only as needed
Virus	A segment of program code which is self-perpetuating and can corrupt other files
VisiCalc	The first electronic spreadsheet for personal computers
Volatile	Refers to the loss of data in semiconductor storage when the current is interrupted or turned off
WAN	(Wide Area Network) A network technology that covers large geographic distances. Also called long-haul networks, WANs usually operate at slower speeds and have significantly higher delays than networks that operate over shorter distances.
WAV	(Waveform Audio) A common audio file format for Windows computers (.wav).
Winchester disk	A disk drive in which the disks, access arms, and read/write heads are combined in a sealed module
Window (in spreadsheets)	Any portion of a worksheet or split screen of a worksheet displayed on the screen at a given time
Word (of computer memory)	Four bytes or thirty-two bits
Word processing	Computer-based creation, editing, formatting, storage and printing of text
Word wrap	A word processing feature that automatically starts a word at the left margin of the next line if there is not enough room on the line
Write-protect	The user's ability to protect the encoding on a floppy disk by covering a small notch on the outside of the diskette
WYSIWYG	"What you see is what you get," an acronym referring to scree-oriented word processing programs
Xenix	An operating system written especially for IBM-compatible microcomputers to serve in a time-sharing environment
ZIP	A compressed file format (.zip). Many files available on the Internet are compressed or "zipped" in order to reduce storage space and transfer times.
Zoom (windows)	A software option that allows users to expand the size of a display window, thereby revealing more detailed graphics images or written information on-screen