Definitions Flashcards
ADDRESS BUS
Carries the address of a memory location currently being read from or written to.
APPLICATION S/W
Software written to perform user tasks
BATCH OS
A process runs from beginning to end without user intervention
BAUD RATE
Number of voltage changes per second. One baud ≈ One bit/s
BIT RATE
Number of bits per second
BUS
A set of wires connecting components
CHECK DIGIT
Calculated using the data and a special algorithm and appended to the original data to check integrity
CLI
Command Line Interface. User has to type in commands e.g. DOS
COMPILER
Whole source code translated into object code (executable file) in one go
DATA BUS
Carries the data currently being read or written
FOREIGN KEY
An attribute in one table and the primary key in another (linking the two tables)
HANDSHAKING
An exchange of signals to establish that one device is ready to send and another ready to receive data
HARDWARE
The physical components of the computer
HCI
Human Computer Interface. Interaction between the user and the computer
IMPERATIVE HLL
Computer executes instructions in programmer defined sequence
INDEX
An alphabetical list of a particular attribute
INTEGRATED PACKAGE
One program with several functions (e.g. MS Works)
INTEGRITY OF DATA
Making sure data is accurate/valid
INTERACTIVE OS
Computer and user are in direct two-way communication
INTERPRETER
Translates and executes code one line at a time
INTRANET
A company-wide internet
LAN
Local Area Network. A number of computers connected together on one site
NETWORK OS
Allows a number of computers to be connected together so they can share resources
OS
An interface between the user and the hardware controlling the running of the machine
PARALLEL
Bits sent down several wires simultaneously
PARITY
The most significant bit of a byte set to 0 or 1 to used for error detection (odd/even)
PEER TO PEER LAN
Network where all computers have equal status. There are no dedicated servers
PROTOCOL
A set of rules governing the ways computers communicate
PSEUDO REAL-TIME OS
A response is required within a few seconds (almost immediately)
RANDOM (DIRECT) FILE
Records written at an address calculated by hashing the key field
REAL-TIME OS
A response is required immediately
RELATIONAL DATABASE
A collection of tables linked together
SECURITY OF DATA
Making sure data is safe
SEQUENTIAL FILE
Records written in key order
SERIAL
Bits sent along a single wire one at a time
SERIAL FILE
Records written one after the other in no particular order
SERVER BASED LAN
Network in which security, administration and other functions are provided by dedicated servers
SOFTWARE
Programs which run on the computer
SOFTWARE SUITE
Several separate programs sold as one package (e.g. MS Office)
SYSTEM S/W
Layer of software which enables the user to operate a computer
VALIDATION
Process of checking whether data is sensible/reasonable
VERIFICATION
Process of entering data twice, with the second entry compared against the first entry to ensure accuracy
WAN
A number of computers connected together over a large geographical area
WIMP
Windows, Icons, Mouse and Pull-down menus
WORD
The number of bits that can be manipulated in one go
OBJECT CODE
Code produced by an assembler or compiler
