Glossary of Computing Terms
Please click on the letter corresponding to the first letter of the word or phrase you would like to know more about.
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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
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applet: |
A small application unable to run by itself. When you purchase Windows 95 or another application, it may come with additional applets. For example; Word comes with applets for manipulating fonts (WordArt), drawing graphs (MS Graph), and creating graphics (MS Draw) |
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Application Programming Interface (API): |
A set of interface functions available for applications. |
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ASCII file: |
A file consisting of alphanumeric characters only. Although onlinely every file can be converted to an ASCII file, all formatting (for example, bold, italics, underline, font size, and so on) will be lost in the ASCII file. |
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ATM: |
Asynchronous Transfer Mode is a high-speed, but expensive, networking solution. ATM networks reach speeds of 166 Mb/s. |
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Basic Input/Output System (BIOS): |
A program - usually residing on a ROM-based storage device in your PC - that handles instructions to and from the system bus |
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binary file transfer: |
A data transfer in which files aren't converted. Typically used with a modem to send programs or complex documents from computer to computer. |
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bits per second (bps) |
A measurement of data transmission speed, usually over a serial data link. Roughly equivalent to baud rate. A single character requires approximately 10 bits, so a transfer rate of 9600 baud results in about 960 characters per second (cps) being transferred. This speed, however, varies depending on the make of your modem. |
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browse: |
To search through or examine a directory tree of files, directories, disks, workstations, workgroups, or domains. Often done via a Browse button in a dialog box. |
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bus network: |
One of various network topologies. A Bus network is one in which all of the computers on the network are connected to the main wire of the network. |
C
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cache RAM: |
A small collection of very high speed RAM. In general, modern microprocessors can process information much faster than standard dynamic RAM can even supply the information. Nevertheless, fast dynamic RAM is very expensive. Instead, a very small amount (typically 256K or 512K) of very fast 'cache RAM' acts as a buffer between the CPU and the dynamic RAM. If the information needed by the CPU is in the cache, it can be processed without waiting to retrieve it from the dynamic RAM. |
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client: |
As opposed to server, a client is a workstation that connects to another computer's resources. A client also can include the server, and doesn't necessarily have to be another workstation. Basically, a client is just another application or workstation that utilizes resources from another process. |
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client/server networking: |
As opposed to peer to peer networking, an arrangement in which central computer called servers supply data and peripherals for use by client computers (workstations). Typically, a server contains a large, hard disk that supplies not only data, but also programs. It even executes programs. A server might also supply printers and modems for clients to use on the network. In other words, client/server refers to an architecture for distributed processing wherein subtasks can be distributed between services, CPUs, or even networked computers for more efficient execution. |
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coaxial cable: |
A type of shielded cable used in wiring networks together. Although coaxial cable sufficiently shields network signals from outside electrical noise, 'coax' is stiff and difficult to work with and more difficult to run through walls and ceilings than twisted pair cable (see twisted pair). |
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connection (HyperTerminal): |
In HyperTerminal, a connection sets and saves all the configuration parameters for one party you wish to contact. |
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connection (Network): |
A communication session established between a server and a workstation. |
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CPU: |
Central processing unit. Also known as a microprocessor (see microprocessor) or processor (see processor). The 80386, 80486, and Pentium are examples of CPUs built by Intel. |
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database: |
A file or group of related files that are designed to hold recurring data types as if the files were lists. |
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default printer: |
The printer, which is established using the Printer settings, that documents will be sent to if the user doesn't specify another printer. |
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Dial Up Networking: |
Dialing into a network from a remote site using a modem. |
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Disk Defragmenter: |
As you use your hard drive, blocks of information for a file spread across the hard drive, wherever there is room. This 'fragmentation' of the information in a file can lead to a significant slow-down in file access times because the disk's read/write head must move all over the disk, looking for the various portions of a file. Disk Defragmenter arranges the blocks of information for a file into adjacent blocks on your hard drive, which may significantly improve the file access times. |
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DOS: |
A term used to refer to any variation of the Disk Operation System (for example, MS-DOS and PC-DOS). |
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drag-and-drop: |
'Drag-and-drop' describes a particular action you can make with the mouse. Click an object, such as a folder, then hold down the mouse button as you drag the object to a new location. You drop the object by releasing the mouse button. |
E
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embedded object: |
Data stored in a document that originated from another application. Differing from a linked object, this type of object doesn't have its own file on the disk. However, it runs its source application for editing when you double-click it. For example, a Paint drawing embedded in a Word document. |
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Ethernet: |
One of the earliest and least expensive network types. Ethernet is capable of speeds of 10Mb/s, and employs Bus and Star network types. When attempting to transmit over an Ethernet network, the transmitting workstation must 'listen' to the network line to ensure that it is clear (another workstation is not currently transmitting). If the line is not clear, the workstation must wait until the line clears. |
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file name: |
The name that a file system or operating system gives to a file when it's stored on a disk. File names in Window 95's file system can be 256 characters long. Additionally, Windows 95 assigns a file name compatible with older DOS (8 characters with a 3 character extension) naming conventions. |
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file name extension: |
The 3 character extension that you can add to a filename - either the standard 8 characters of DOS and Windows 3.1, or the long filenames of Windows 95. The file name extension is only visible in Explorer if you enable the appropriate option. Otherwise, the extension is hidden. Nevertheless, the extension is still part of the filename, even when you can't see it - it is this extension that Windows 95 (as well as earlier Windows) uses to associate a document with the application that created it. |
H
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host drive: |
The physical hard drive upon which a Drive Space compressed volume file exists (see compressed volume file). You can choose to either show or hide the host drive when working with Explorer. |
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hub: |
A wiring concentrator or multiport repeater (see repeater and wiring concentrator). Hubs may be active or passive. |
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hyperlink: |
A link in a document that, when activated (often by clicking it), links - or jumps to - another document or graphic. |
I
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Internet: |
The Internet is a 'network of networks,' a global linkage of millions of computers, containing vast amounts of information, much of it available to anyone with a modem and the right software-for free. The internet is an aggregation of high speed networks, supported by the NSF (National Science Foundation) and almost 6,000 federal, state, and local systems, as well as university and commercial networks. There are links to networks in Canada, South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, and more than 30,000,000 users. |
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Internet Protocol (IP): |
A network protocol that provides routing services across multiple LANs and WANs that is used in the TCP/IP protocol stack. IP packet information is used to address packets of data from ultimate source and destination nodes (host) located on any LAN or WAN networked with TCP/IP protocol. IP provides routing services in conjunction with IP routers, which are incorporated into many computer systems and most versions of UNIX.IP. Packet format is supported in NetWare 3.11 and 4.0 operating systems, and is used throughout the Department of Defense Internet ? a net work of thousands of computers internetworked worldwide. |
K
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keyboard shortcut: |
A combination of keystrokes that initiates a menu command without dropping the menu down, or activates a button in a dialog box without clicking the button. |
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local area network |
A limited-distance, multipoint physical connectivity medium consisting of network interface cards, media, and repeating devices designed to transport frames of data between host computers at high speeds with low error rates. A LAN is a subsystem that is part of the network. |
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macro: |
A sequence of keyboard strokes and mouse actions that can be recorded so that their playback can be activated by a single keystroke, keystroke combination, or mouse click. Unlike Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95 does not come with a Macro Recorder. |
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MPEG: |
Created by the Motion Picture Experts Group, MPEG is a specification for compressing and decompressing animation or 'movie' files, which are typically very large. Although extremely efficient at reducing the size of such a file, MPEG is also very processor-intensive. |
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parallel port: |
A port (usually used for printing) that transmits data 8 bits at a time. This parallel transmission of 8 bits at a time gives the port its name. |
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protocol: |
Rules of communication. In networks, several layers of protocols exist. Each layer of protocol only needs to physically hand-off or receive data from the immediate layer above and beneath it, whereas online communications occur with the corresponding layer on another host computer. |
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RAM: |
Random-Access Memory. Physical memory chips located in the computer. Typically, Windows 95 machines have 16 million bytes (16M) of RAM or more. However, Windows 95 will run on machines with 8M of RAM. |
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Rich Text Format (RTF): |
Rich Text Format (RTF) is compatible with several word processors and includes fonts, tabs, and character formatting. |
S
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ScanDisk: |
A program used to check for, diagnose, and repair damage on a hard disk or disk. Part of your routine hard disk maintenance (along with defragmenting you hard disk) should include a periodic run of ScanDisk to keep your hard disk in good repair. In its standard test, ScanDisk checks the files and folders on a disk or disk for logical errors, and if you ask it to, automatically corrects any errors it finds. ScanDisk checks for crosslinked files, which occur when two or more files have data stored in the same cluster (a storage unit on a disk). The data in the cluster is likely to be correct for only one of the files, and may not be correct for any of them. ScanDisk also checks for lost file fragments, which are pieces of data that have become disassociated with their files. |
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Shortcut: |
A pointer to a file, document or printer in Windows 95. A shortcut is represented by an icon in Explorer, on the desktop, or as an entry in the Start menu. Selecting the program shortcut icon or menu entry runs the program to which the shortcut 'points.' Selecting a document shortcut runs the application that created the document (provided the document type is associated with a program). Dragging and dropping a document onto a printer shortcut prints the document. Note that a shortcut does NOT create a copy of the program or document itself. |
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Stub: |
A client-side representation of a remote object that is used to invoke methods on the implementation of the remote object. Defines the interface to the remote object implementation of an object. The stub is responsible for packaging up the client request, serializing it, and shipping it to the companion skeleton on the server side. |
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TCP/IP: |
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is a set of networking protocols developed in the 1970s. TCP/IP includes Transport Control Protocol, which is a connection-oriented transport protocol that includes transport, session, and presentation layer protocol functions, which is equivalent to layers 4, 5, and 6 of the OSI Model and Internet Protocol, and a widely used routable network protocol that corresponds to layer 3 of the OSI model. User Datagram Protocol (UDP) can be substituted in cases where connectionless datagram service is desired. TCP/IP is an entire protocol stack that includes protocols for file transfers (FTP), termination emulation services (telnet), electronic mail (SMTP), address resolution (ARP and RRP), and error control and notification (ICMP and SNMP). TCP/IP is used extensively in many computer systems because it is nonproprietary - free from royalties. Its use was mandated by Congress for use in computer systems for many government agencies and contract situations. TCP/IP is also used in the Internet, a huge government and research internetwork spanning North America and must of the world. TCP/IP is the most commonly used set of network protocols. |
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World Wide Web (WWW): |
The fastest growing part of the Internet, the 'Web,' or WWW, is a collection of hypertext documents. It provides access to images and sounds from thousands of different Web sites, via a special programming language called HyperText Markup Language, or HTML. This language is used to create 'hypertext' documents, which include embedded commands. |
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WYSIWYG: |
Short for 'What you see is what you get,' this term refers to the ability of an application to display an accurate representation of the printed output on the screen. |
