Chapter 2: Key Terms Flashcards
Computer
a machine that accepts data as input, processes data without human intervention by using stored instructions, and outputs information
Central Processing Unit (CPU
the heart of a computer. It is derived into two components: the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the control unit
Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
performs arithmetic operations (+, -, *, /) as well as comparison or relational operations (, =)
Control Unit
tells the computer what to do, such as instructing the computer which device to read or send output to
Bus
a link between devices connected to the computer. It can be parallel or serial, internal (local) or external
Disk drive
a peripheral device for recording, storing, and retrieving information
CPU case
the enclosure containing the computer’s main components
What are the other names for the CPU case?
Chassis or Tower
Motherboard
the main circuit board containing connectors for attaching additional boards.
What does the motherboard usually contain?
CPU, Basic Input/output System, memory, storage, interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the controllers for standard peripheral devices, such as the display monitor, disk drive, and keyboard
Input devices
sends data and information to the computer
What is an example of an input device?
keyboard or mouse
Output device
is capable of representing information from a computer.
What are the different forms of an output device?
visual, audio, or digital
What are some examples of an output device?
printers, display monitors, and plotters
Main memory
stores data and information and is usually volatile; its contents are lost when electrical power is turned off
Secondary memory
nonvolatile, holds data when the computer is off or during the course of a program’s operation. It also services as an archival storage
Random access memory (RAM)
volatile memory, in which data can be read from and written to
What is another name for random access memory?
Read-write memory
cache RAM
stores recently accessed memory so the processor is not waiting for the memory to transfer
Where does the cache RAM reside?
On the processor
Read only memory (ROM)
nonvolatile, data cannot be written to ROM
Magnetic tape
made of a plastic material, resembles a cassette tape and stores data sequentially
Magnetic disk
made of Mylar or metal, is used for random-access processing. Data can be accessed in any order, regardless of its order on the surface.
Optical discs
use laser beams to access and store data
What are some examples of optical discs?
CD-ROMs, WORM discs, and DVD’s
Cloud storage
used for online storage and backup; involves multiple virtual servers that are usually hosted by third parties. Customers buy or lease storage space from third parties based on their current or future need
Redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system
collection of disk drivers used for fault tolerance and improved performance, and is typically found in large network systems
Storage area network (SAN)
a dedicated high-speed network consisting of both hardware and software used to connect and mange shared storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries and optical storage devices
Network-attached storage (NAS)
essentially a network-connected computer dedicated to providing file-based data storage services to other network devices
Server
a computer and all the software for managing network resources and offering services to a network
Application software
can be commercial software or software developed in house and is used to perform a variety of tasks on a personal computer
Operating system (OS)
a set of programs for controlling and managing computer hardware and software
Machine language
the first generation of computer languages, consists of a series of 0s and 1s representing data or instructions.
Can machine language be used across different computers?
No. It is dependent on the machine. Code written for one type of computer does not work on another type of computer
Assembly language
the second generation of computer languages, is a higher-level language than machine language but is also machine dependent. It uses a series of short codes, or mnemonics, to represent data or instruction
High-level language
are machine independent and part of the third-generation of computer languages.
Fourth-generation language (4GLs)
uses macro codes that can take the place of several lines of programming. The commands are powerful and easy to learn
Fifth-generation languages
use some artificial intelligence technologies. These languages are designed to facilitate natural conversation between you and the computer.
