Common Computer Terms

Common Computer Terms

Boot: The act of starting up a computer.

Byte: One character (eight bits of data).

Cracker.  The preferred term to refer to a computer criminal who penetrates a  computer program to steal information or damage the program in some way.

Crash. A malfunction in hardware or software that keeps a computer from functioning.  

Cut and paste. To move a block of text from one place to another.

Cursor: The blinking vertical or horizontal line that indicates where text is being typed.

CD-ROM: Compact Disc Read-Only Memory

CD-R/CD-RW: CD-Recordable/CD-Re-Writeable.  Disc drives that create (or burn) new CDs.

CPU: Central Processing Unit.  The computer's electronic brain.

Crash: A hardware or software failure.

CRC Error:  These can occur when you try to decompress a file that has become corrupt during the downloading process, usually as a result of too much resuming.

Cybrarian. The electronic equivalent of a librarian.  A person who makes a career of  online research and data retrieval.

Dialog Box: A window that asks a question or requests the user to make a choice.

Drive: A device that spins disks or tapes in order to read and write data; for example, a hard drive, floppy drive, or CD-ROM drive. Each drive has an assigned letter. The “C” Drive is the hard drive (information is stored in the computer). The “A” drive holds the floppy disk (information is stored in the floppy).  The “D” Drive is the CD-ROM drive.

Download: The act of retrieving data from another computer.  

Upload: The act of sending data to another computer.

DVD: Also called DVD-ROM. Digital Versatile Disk Read-Only Memory.

File: Any form of digital data that's saved to a disk.

Filename extension: The last three characters of a file or folder name, appearing after a period (dot). For example, DOC is the filename extension of MyLetter.DOC.

Floppy Disk:  The standard removable storage device used with computers.  The floppy disk goes in the “A” Drive.

Icon: A small drawing that represents a program, command, data file, service,  function, or website.

Hacker.  A dedicated computer programmer. The term hacker is sometimes used erroneously to refer to a computer criminal who penetrates and damages a computer program.  The preferred term for a computer criminal is cracker.

Hardware: The electronic, electrical, and mechanical components that make up a computer.

Hypertext markup language (HTML). The formatting language used to establish the appearance of a Web page.

Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).  The protocol used on the World Wide Web that permits Web clients (Web browsers to communicate with Web servers.  This protocol allows programmers to embed hyperlinks in Web documents using hypertext markup language.

Kilobyte.  A measurement of the storage capacity of a computer.  One kilobyte represents 1024 bytes.  Kilobyte may be abbreviated K or KB; however, KB is the clearer abbreviation since K also stands for the metric prefix kilo (meaning 1000).

Maximize:  Expanding an open window to fill the screen by clicking the maximize button.

Megabyte.  A measurement of the  storage capacity of a computer.  One megabyte represents more than 1 million bytes.  Megabyte may be abbreviated M or MB; however, MB is clearer since M also stands for the metric prefix mega (meaning 1 million).

Minimize: Shrinking an open window by clicking the minimize button.

Mouse: The standard pointing device used with computers.

Mouse potato.  A person who sits glued to a computer screen in the same way that a couch potato sits glued to a TV screen.

Mouse elbow.  A repetitive strain injury similar to tennis that  is caused by repeatedly using a mouse.

Open: To activate a program or data file.

Operating System:  The main program that controls your PC (personal computer).(Windows 95, 98, ME, XP ,Windows7,Windows 8 )

Pointer: The arrow that moves when the mouse is jostled.

Port:  Input/output receptacles which enable your PC to  connect  to other hardware resources,  such as a keyboard, printer, mouse,  and so on.

RAM: Random Access Memory. The computer's temporary memory. It is used when you are running a program or creating something. RAM is erased when you turn your computer off.

Software:  Programs that run in a computer, such as a word processor, spreadsheet, database, web browser, or e-mail system.

Shouting.  The use of all capital letters in e-mail.

USB:  Universal Serial Bus. The standard input/output port for connecting devices to computers.

Virus.  A piece of computer code designed as a prank or malicious act to spread from one computer to another by attacking itself to other programs.  Some viruses simply cause a humorous message to appear on the screen, some cause minor glitches, and some cause serious damage to a computer’s memory or disks.