Basic Computer Terminology
- access time
- The performance of a hard drive or other storage device – how long it takes to locate a file.
- active program or window
- The application or window at the front (foreground) on the monitor.
- alert (alert box)
- a message that appears on screen, usually to tell you something went wrong.
- alias
- an icon that points to a file, folder or application (System 7).
- apple menu
- on the left side of the screen header. System 6 = desk accessories System 7 = up to 50 items.
- application
- a program in which you do your work.
- application menu
- on the right side of the screen header. Lists running applications.
- ASCII (pronounced ask-key )
- American Standard Code for Information Interchange. a commonly used data format for exchanging information between computers or programs.
- background
- part of the multitasking capability. A program can run and perform tasks in the background while another program is being used in the foreground.
- bit
- the smallest piece of information used by the computer. Derived from "binary digit". In computer language, either a one (1) or a zero (0).
- backup
- a copy of a file or disk you make for archiving purposes.
- boot
- to start up a computer.
- bug
- a programming error that causes a program to behave in an unexpected way.
- bus
- an electronic pathway through which data is transmitted between components in a computer.
- byte
- a piece of computer information made up of eight bits.
- card
- a printed circuit board that adds some feature to a computer.
- cartridge drive
- a storage device, like a hard drive, in which the medium is a cartridge that can be removed.
- CD-ROM
- an acronym for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory.
- Chooser
- A desk accessory used to select a printer, or other external device, or to log onto a network.
- Clipboard
- A portion of memory where the Mac temporarily stores information. Called a Copy Buffer in many PC applications because it is used to hold information which is to be moved, as in word processing where text is "cut" and then "pasted".
- Clock Rate (MHz)
- The instruction processing speed of a computer measured in millions of cycles per second (i.e., 200 MHz).
- command
- the act of giving an instruction to your Mac either by menu choice or keystroke.
- command (apple) key
- a modifier key, the Command key used in conjunction with another keystroke to active some function on the Mac.
- compiler
- a program the converts programming code into a form that can be used by a computer.
- compression
- a technique that reduces the size of a saved file by elimination or encoding redundancies (i.e., JPEG, MPEG, LZW, etc.)
- control key
- seldom used modifier key on the Mac.
- control panel
- a program that allows you to change settings in a program or change the way a Mac looks and/or behaves.
- CPU
- the Central Processing Unit. The processing chip that is the "brains" of a computer.
- crash
- a system malfunction in which the computer stops working and has to be restarted.
- cursor
- The pointer, usually arrow or cross shaped, which is controlled by the mouse.
- daisy chaining
- the act of stringing devices together in a series (such as SCSI).
- database
- an electronic list of information that can be sorted and/or searched.
- data
- (the plural of datum) information processed by a computer.
- defragment
- (also
- optimize) to concatenate fragments of data into contiguous blocks in memory or on a hard drive.
- desktop
- 1. the finder. 2. the shaded or colored backdrop of the screen.
- desktop file
- an invisible file in which the Finder stores a database of information about files and icons.
- dialog box
- an on-screen message box that appears when the Mac requires additional information before completing a command.
- digitize
- to convert linear, or analog, data into digital data which can be used by the computer.
- disk
- a spinning platter made of magnetic or optically etched material on which data can be stored.
- disk drive
- the machinery that writes the data from a disk and/or writes data to a disk.
- disk window
- the window that displays the contents or directory of a disk.
- document
- a file you create, as opposed to the application which created it.
- DOS
- acronym for Disk Operating System
- used in IBM PCs.
- DPI
- acronym for Dots Per Inch
- a gauge of visual clarity on the printed page or on the computer screen.
- download
- to transfer data from one computer to another. (If you are on the receiving end, you are downloading. If you are on the sending end, you are uploading ).
- drag
- to move the mouse while its button is being depressed.
- drag and drop
- a feature on the Mac which allows one to drag the icon for a document on top of the icon for an application, thereby launching the application and opening the document.
- driver
- a file on a computer which tells it how to communicate with an add-on piece of equipment (like a printer).
- Ethernet
- a protocol for fast communication and file transfer across a network.
- expansion slot
- a connector inside the computer which allows one to plug in a printed circuit board that provides new or enhanced features.
- extension
- a startup program that runs when you start the Mac and then enhances its function.
- fibre channel
- as applied to data storage and network topology
- link to FC Glossary.
- file
- the generic word for an application, document, control panel or other computer data.
- finder
- The cornerstone or home-base application in the Mac environment. The finder regulates the file management functions of the Mac (copying, renaming, deleting…)
- floppy
- a 3.5 inch square rigid disk which holds data. (so named for the earlier 5.25 and 8 inch disks that were flexible).
- folder
- an electronic subdirectory which contains files.
- font
- a typeface that contains the characters of an alphabet or some other letterforms.
- footprint
- The surface area of a desk or table which is occupied by a piece of equipment.
- fragmentation
- The breaking up of a file into many separate locations in memory or on a disk.
- freeze
- a system error which causes the cursor to lock in place.
- get info
- a Finder File menu command that presents an information window for a selected file icon.
- gig
- a gigabyte = 1024 megabytes.
- hard drive
- a large capacity storage device made of multiple disks housed in a rigid case.
- head crash
- a hard disk crash caused by the heads coming in contact with the spinning disk(s).
- high density disk
- a 1.4 MB floppy disk.
- highlight
- to select by clicking once on an icon or by highlighting text in a document.
- icon
- a graphic symbol for an application, file or folder.
- initialize
- to format a disk for use in the computer; creates a new directory and arranges the tracks for the recording of data.
- insertion point
- in word processing, the short flashing marker which indicates where your next typing will begin.
- installer
- software used to install a program on your hard drive.
- interrupt button
- a tool used by programmers to enter the debugging mode. The button is usually next to the reset button.
- K
- short for kilobyte.
- keyboard shortcut
- a combination of keystrokes that performs some function otherwise found in a pulldown menu.
- kilobyte
- 1024 bytes.
- landscape
- in printing from a computer, to print sideways on the page.
- launch
- start an application.
- Measurements (summary)
-
*a bit = one binary digit (1 or 0) *"bit" is derived from the contraction b’it (binary digit) -> 8 bits = one byte
*1024 bytes = one kilobyte
*K = kilobyte
*Kb = kilobit
*MB = megabyte
*Mb = megabit
*MB/s = megabytes per second
*Mb/s = megabits per second
*bps = bits per second
i.e., 155 Mb/s = 19.38 MB/s
- MB
- short for megabyte.
- megabyte
- 1024 kilobytes.
- memory
- the temporary holding area where data is stored while it is being used or changed; the amount of RAM a computer has installed.
- menu
- a list of program commands listed by topic.
- menu bar
- the horizontal bar across the top of the Mac¹s screen that lists the menus.
- multi finder
- a component of System 6 that allows the Mac to multi task.
- multi tasking
- running more than one application in memory at the same time.
- nanosecond
- one billionth of a second. ( or, the time between the theatrical release of a Dudley Moore film and the moment it begins to play on airplanes).
- native mode
- using the computers original operating system; most commonly used when talking about the PowerPC can run software written for either the 80×0 systems, or the PowerPC¹s RISC code.
- NuBus
- expansion slots on the Mac which accept intelligent, self-configuring boards. NuBus is a different bus achitecture than the newer PCI bus and the boards are not interchangable.
- operating system
- the system software that controls the computer.
- optical disk
- a high-capacity storage medium that is read by a laser light.
- palette
- a small floating window that contains tools used in a given application.
- partition
- a subdivision of a hard drives surface that is defined and used as a separate drive.
- paste
- to insert text, or other material, from the clipboard or copy buffer.
- PC
- acronym for personal computer, commonly used to refer to an IBM or IBM clone computer which uses DOS.
- PCI
- acronym for Peripheral Component Interchange
- the newer, faster bus achitecture.
- peripheral
- an add-on component to your computer.
- point
- (1/72") 12 points = one pica in printing.
- pop-up menu
- any menu that does not appear at the top of the screen in the menu bar. (may pop up or down)
- port
- a connection socket, or jack on the Mac.
- Power PC
- a processing chip designed by Apple, IBM and Motorola (RISC based).
- Power Mac
- a family of Macs built around the PowerPC chip.
- print spooler
- a program that stores documents to be printed on the hard drive, thereby freeing the memory up and allowing other functions to be performed while printing goes on in the background.
- QuickTime
- the Apple system extension that gives one the ability to compress, edit and play animation, movies and sound on the Mac.
- RAM
- acronym for Random-Access Memory.
- reset switch
- a switch on the Mac that restarts the computer in the event of a crash or freeze.
- resize box
- the small square at the lower right corner of a window which, when dragged, resizes the window.
- RISC
- acronym for Reduced Instruction Set Computing; the smaller set of commands used by the PowerPC and Power Mac.
- ROM
- acronym for Read Only Memory; memory that can only be read from and not written to.
- root directory
- the main hard drive window.
- save
- to write a file onto a disk.
- save as
- (a File menu item) to save a previously saved file in a new location and/or with a new name.
- scroll
- to shift the contents of a window to bring hidden items into view.
- scroll bar
- a bar at the bottom or right side of a window that contains the scroll box and allows scrolling.
- scroll box
- the box in a scroll bar that is used to navigate through a window.
- SCSI
- acronym for Small Computer System Interface.
- SCSI address
- a number between zero and seven that must be unique to each device in a SCSI chain. Fast and Wide SCSI devices will allow up to 15 SCSI Ids (hexidecimal); however, the length restriction (3 meters) is such that it is virtually impossible to link 15 devices together.
- SCSI port
- a 25 pin connector on the back of a Mac (native SCSI port); used to connect SCSI devices to the CPU. Some SCSI cards (like the ATTO) have a 68 pin connector.
- SCSI terminator
- a device placed at the end of a SCSI chain to complete the circuit. (some SCSI devices are self-terminating, or have active termination and do not require this plug).
- serial port
- a port that allows data to be transmitted in a series (one after the other), such as the printer and modem ports on a Mac.
- server
- a central computer dedicated to sending and receiving data from other computers (on a network).
- shut down
- the command from the Special menu that shuts down the Mac safely.
- software
- files on disk that contain instructions for a computer.
- spreadsheet
- a program designed to look like an electronic ledger.
- start up disk
- the disk containing system software and is designated to be used to start the computer.
- surge suppressor
- a power strip that has circuits designed to reduce the effects of surge in electrical power. (not the same as a UPS)
- System file
- a file in the System folder that allows your Mac to start and run.
- System folder
- an all-important folder that contains at least the System file and the Finder.
- 32 bit addressing
- a feature that allows the Mac to recognize and use more than 8MB of memory.
- title bar
- the horizontal bar at the top of a window which has the name of the file or folder it represents.
- upload
- to send a file from one computer to another through a network.
- Uninterruptible Power Source (UPS)- a constantly charging battery pack which powers the computer. A UPS 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.
- UPS
- acronym for Uninterruptible Power Source.
- vaporware
- "software" advertised, and sometimes sold, that does not yet exist in a releasable for.
- virtual memory
- using part of your hard drive as though it were "RAM".
- WORM
- acronym for Write Once-Read Many; an optical disk that can only be written to once (like a CD-ROM).
- zoom box
- a small square in the upper right corner of a window which, when clicked, will expand the window to fill the whole screen.