IT Vocabulary & Definitions Flashcards
Internet
Resources available for public use.
Middleware
Components that allow the hardware and software to communicate with each other, enabling data to move between computer system components.
Software
A collection of instructions that enable a user to interact with a computer to perform tasks. (Internet browsers, text editing tools, and spreadsheets…)
Hardware
Electronic and mechanical parts of a computer system. Components that are tangible such as keyboard, mouse, monitor, CPU…
Paging System
A built-in mechanism available with most operating systems that permit data to be moved from RAM to the hard drive when the amount of memory in use exceeds the memory available on the computer system.
Networks
Systems of hardware and software components that connect two or more devices for the purpose of sharing data and information.
Client-to-Server
Implementation
(examples)
Servers on one side of the network running authentication to facilitate millions of users logging in and permitting access to specific resources based on parameters such as username, password, and system identifiers. Common across organizations.
Peer-to-Peer
Implementation
(examples)
Access to resources is provided without the assistance of a server. File transfer protocol is an example of peer-to-peer implementation. Common in small businesses and homes.
Physical Topology
Indicates the actual layout of how systems are placed in the network.
Logical Topology
Indicates how the data actually flow and is extremely important when considering things like load balancing normal traffic, network backups, and replication of data.
Protocols
Languages supporting data exchange between computers.
Systems
A system is a collection of elements that interact to achieve a common goal.
User Support
IT provides support to users by first analyzing the needs and issues, then identifying and implementing solutions so users can stay productive with minimal technical interruption.
Networks
Communication supported between the elements of an IT system. They are put in place to enable the exchange of data between organizational servers and to give employees access to resources.
Intranet
Resources only available for users or systems of a specific organization are on the intranet like proprietary information and sensitive employee information.
Extranet
Makes resources available within an organization, but it also makes that information available to other specific organizations or users, such as contracted, third-party consultants.
Internet
Resources available for the public are on the internet, including commercial sites (e-commerce), blogs, social media, news, etc.
Business Intelligence
Systems and personnel supporting data analytics use the organization’s data to examine its past performance, identify the reasons behind past and current issues, and forecast future performance.
Project Management
The maintenance of an organization’s IT infrastructure to assure continuous functionality and implement improvements or technology changes within the general organizational IT strategy.
Outsourcing Services
When smaller organizations employ third-party, specialized IT consulting services.
Computing
Any activity that uses a computer to manage, process, or share information.
Data
Raw facts or observations not useful until it has been processed and is presented in a usable form.
Information
A collection of processed data from a variety of sources. (data in context)
Knowledge
A dynamic combination of experience, values, and contextual information.(information with meaning)
Wisdom
The application of the knowledge framework to evaluate and incorporate new experiences and information.
Data Science
Finding patterns/clusters in information; providing insight where one would not know to look.
Big Data
Smart information derived from completing the data pyramid process. (flipped pyramid)
Information Systems
Collections of data and information used to support decision-making in organizations.
Data Architecture
Infrastructure used to manage data in an organization.
Data Hygiene
The processes of ensuring that the data is relatively error-free.
Dirty data can be caused by things such as duplicate records, incomplete or outdated data, and mistakes introduced as data is entered, stored, and managed.
Data Scrubbing
(aka Data Cleansing)
The process of amending or removing data in a database that is incorrect, incomplete, improperly formatted, or duplicated.
Liveware
(People)
The most important element of a computer system.
System programmers write code to implement the working of the system. End users (users) operate the system for different purposes.
Parallel Processing
The ability to process multiple programs simultaneously.
Quantum Computing
The study of a non-classical model of computation.
Nanotechnology
A technology based on the ability to build structures to complex, atomic specifications by means of mechanosynthesis, or reaction outcomes determined by the use of mechanical constraints.
Ephemeral
Short-lived. As in random access memory once the power is cut off.
Volatile vs. Nonvolatile
Volatile memory is lost when the power is cut (RAM), while nonvolatile memory remains (ROM).
System Clock
A pulse of electricity sent out at regular intervals. One instruction gets processed per pulse. The more pulses sent out by the system clock, the faster the computer.
Secondary Storage
Devices that store data and instructions while they are not being used; the saved content remains on the secondary storage unit even when the computer is powered down.
(floppy and hard drives, flash drives, magnetic tape, and optical discs, such as CDs and DVDs.)
Bits
(BI)nary Digi(TS)
How storage capacity is measured. It takes 8 bits to equal a byte, which amounts to a single letter.