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Computer Science > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Abstraction

A

Process of removing or hiding unnecessary detail so that only the important points remain

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2
Q

Access Control

A

Determines which users have access to which data AND what they are allowed to do with it

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3
Q

Algorithm

A

Precise method for solving a problem

Consists of a sequence of step-by-step instructions

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4
Q

Analogue

A

Using signals or information represented by a quantity that is continuously variable

Requires accurate sending and receiving mechanisms

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5
Q

Application Software

A

Software that performs a task that would otherwise be done by hand

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6
Q

Arithmetic/ Logic Unit (ALU)

A

Part of the CPU that performs calculations and logic operations

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7
Q

Arithmetic Operator

A

Operator that performs a calculation on 2 numbers

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8
Q

Arithmetic Shift

A

Used for signed binary numbers

When performing a right shift, the bits at the left are replaced by the most significant bit

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9
Q

Array

A

An organised collection of related values that share a single identifier

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10
Q

Assembly Language

A

Low-level language written using mnemonics

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11
Q

Assignment Statement

A

SET…TO

e.g. SET correct TO False

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12
Q

Attribute

A

An item of data stored about an entity

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13
Q

Audit Trail

A

Record of activities that have taken place on a computer system

Generated automatically and will record:

  • what has happened
  • who or what has made a change
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14
Q

Authentication

A

Process of proving to a computer system who you are

e.g. username and password

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15
Q

Back-Up

A

Copy of files in another location so that they are still available in the original copy is damaged or lost

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16
Q

Bandwidth

A

The amount of data that can be carried on a network in a given time period

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17
Q

Binary

A

Information represented by 1s and 0s

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18
Q

Binary Prefix

A

Multiplies a unit by powers of 2

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19
Q

Binary Shift

A

An operation done on all the bits of a binary value in which they are moved by a specific number of places to either the left or right

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20
Q

Bit Depth

A

Number of bits used to encode the information from each sample

Increasing the number of bits used increases the amount of detail contained in each sample

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21
Q

Boolean

A

Something that can take only the values “True” or “False”

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22
Q

Brute Force

A

Algorithm design that does not include any techniques to improve performance but, instead, relies on sheer computing power to try all possibilities until the solution to a problem is found

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23
Q

Built-In Functions

A

Functions that are provided in most high-level programming languages to perform common tasks

24
Q

Bus

A

group of connections between devices in a computer

25
Q

Bus Width

A

The number of wires that make up a bus

26
Q

Byte

A

8 bits

27
Q

Cache

A

Memory used to make up for the difference in speed between two internal components

Faster than RAM

Very expensive

28
Q

CPU

A

Central Processing Unit

Hardware device that carries out the processing in a computer

29
Q

Character Set

A

Defined list of characters recognised by a computer’s hardware and software

30
Q

Checksum

A

An error detection technique

31
Q

Client-Server Network

A

A network that has at least one server to provide services to the client computers

32
Q

Clock

A

An electronic device inside a CPU that is used to synchronise the actions of the other parts of the CPU

33
Q

Clockspeed

A

Measured in Hz

Number of cycles (instructions) that can be carried out per second

34
Q

Cloud Storage

A

Secondary storage

Accessed via a netwrok

35
Q

Colour Depth

A

Number of bits used to encode the colour of each pixel

36
Q

Compiler

A

A translator that converts high-level language source code into machine code

37
Q

Compound Key

A

A key that consists of two or more fields used to identify a record uniquely

38
Q

Compression

A

Changing the format of a data file so that the size of the file becomes smaller

39
Q

Computational Thinking

A

Thought process involved in formulation problems and their solutions so that the solutions are represented in a form that can be effectively carried out by a computer

40
Q

Computing Technology

A

An all-encompassing term referring to the:

  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Infrastructure
  • etc
41
Q

Concantenation

A

Linking together two or more items of information

42
Q

Concurrent

A

Processes that run ‘simultaneously’

43
Q

Constant

A

Holds a value that never changes

44
Q

Construst

A

What something is built from

e.g. letters and numbers make up the English language

45
Q

Control Unit

A

Part of the CPU that organises the actions of the other parts of the CPU

46
Q

Data Structure

A

Organised collection of related elements

Arrays and records are two common data structures used in programming

47
Q

Data Type

A

Specifies what kind of data it can hold

e.g integer, real, Boolean, character, float

48
Q

Database

A

An organised store of data

49
Q

Definite Iteration

A

When the number of loops needed is known

50
Q

Defragmentation

A

Moves file clusters on a disk so that they are closer to each other to speed up disk access

51
Q

Denial of Service (DoS)

A

An attack on a network that attempts to prevent legitimate users from accessing its services

52
Q

Digital

A

Information represented by certain fixed values

53
Q

Encryption

A

Process of encoding a message into a form that only the intended recipient can decode/ decrypt/ read

54
Q

Field

A

An individual element in a record

55
Q

File

A

All of the records in a table

OR

A group of linked elements

56
Q

Firewall

A

A utility that controls program access to the network

Computer Science (8 decks)

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