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GCSE Computing > Key terms > Flashcards

Key terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Iteration

A

A block of code is executed repeatedly, either until a condition is met or for a set number of times.

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2
Q

Statement

A

Any individual step or instruction in the code.

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3
Q

Assignment

A

Setting the value of a variable, eg score = 10. Do not confuse this with the equality operator!

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4
Q

Logic error

A

The program runs but does something different from what the programmer intended.

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5
Q

String

A

Text data in the form of a sequence of characters, for example words and punctuation. String data is made up of character data and will usually vary in length.

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6
Q

Sequence

A

Each statement in a program is executed in order.

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7
Q

Subroutine

A

A sub-program, a set of statements written to perform a given task as part of solving the main problem. It can be called using its identifier.

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8
Q

Function

A

A subroutine that returns a value and can therefore be used as if it were a variable.

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9
Q

Parameter/argument

A

Data item being supplied to a function or procedure when it is called.

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10
Q

Pseudocode

A

A method of writing an algorithm using normal language that mimics programming code but without worrying about specific syntax. Useful for planning programs or explaining them to other people.

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11
Q

Embedded system

A

A computer system that forms part of an electronic device.

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12
Q

Kernel

A

The lowest level of an operating system that controls the hardware.

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13
Q

HTML

A

Hypertext Markup Language - a text based system for defining web pages.

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14
Q

PDF

A

Portable Document Format - a file standard that displays a document accurately on any computer platform.

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15
Q

ISO

A

International Organisation for Standardisation - the world’s largest standards developing organisation. Produces international standards for engineering, agriculture and medicine as well as IT.

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16
Q

TCP/IP

A

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol - a set of standards that control how data is sent across networks including the internet.

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17
Q

Computer architecture

A

The internal, logical structure and organisation of the computer hardware.

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18
Q

Binary

A

A system of numbers using only two digits, 0 and 1 (base 2), unlike the everyday denary (or decimal) system that uses the 10 digits 0-9 (base 10).

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19
Q

CPU

A

Central Processing Unit, containing the control unit, ALU and cache memory.

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20
Q

Control unit

A

The part of the CPU that controls the flow of data within the system.

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21
Q

ALU

A

Arithmetic and Logic Unit, performs all of the arithmetical and logical operations within the CPU.

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22
Q

Random Access Memory

A

Main memory of a computer that stores data, applications and the operating system while in use. When the power is turned off RAM loses its data.

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23
Q

Cache memory

A

Special high speed memory used by a computer.

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24
Q

Flash memory

A

Solid-state memory used as low cost secondary storage in portable devices and as removable memory.

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25
Q

Solid state

A

Technology based on electronics with no moving parts, for example transistors and capacitors as used in memory chips.

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26
Q

Secondary storage

A

Non-volatile storage used to store programs and files that need to be kept even when the power is not on.

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27
Q

Fetch-execute cycle

A

The process of fetching instructions from memory, decoding them and then executing them so that the CPU performs continuously.

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28
Q

Read Only Memory

A

A store for data in the computer that cannot be overwritten. Data in ROM is always available and is not lost when the computer is turned off.

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29
Q

Clock chip

A

The electronic device in a computer that controls the timing of signals.

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30
Q

Bus

A

A part of the computer architecture that transfers data and signals between the components of the computer.

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31
Q

Motherboard

A

The central printed circuit board (PCB) that holds the crucial components of the system.

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32
Q

Dual core/quad core, etc

A

A CPU with multiple processors (a dual core has two, a quad core has four).

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33
Q

Bit

A

A single binary digit, 0 or 1.

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34
Q

Byte

A

8 bits.

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35
Q

Kilobyte

A

1024 bytes (1000 bytes is acceptable).

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36
Q

Volatile

A

Data lost when there is no power.

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37
Q

Non-volatile

A

Data retained even when power is turned off.

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38
Q

Virtual memory

A

A section of the hard disc used as if it were RAM to supplement the amount of main memory available to the computer. Used when there is not enough memory to run the programs required.

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39
Q

Logic gate

A

A circuit that produces a binary output based on the inputs, eg NOT, AND, OR.

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40
Q

NOT gate

A

A logic gate that outputs the opposite value to the input.

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41
Q

AND gate

A

A logic gate that outputs 1 if both of the two inputs are 1.

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42
Q

OR gate

A

A logic gate that outputs 1 if either or both of the two inputs are 1.

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43
Q

Truth table

A

A method for recording all the possible input combinations and determining the output for each.

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44
Q

Logic circuit

A

A circuit made by combining a sequence of logic gates.

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45
Q

Boolean algebra

A

A method for mathematically expressing a logic circuit.

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46
Q

Input device

A

A hardware device used to input data into a computer system for processing.

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47
Q

Keyboard

A

A device that uses labelled keys to enable data input into a computer.

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48
Q

Mouse

A

A device that controls the movement of a pointer on screen, based on its own movement, and allows the user to select an object by pressing a button.

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49
Q

Touch screen

A

A touch sensitive surface that allows the user to select, control or move objects by touching icons and symbols using fingers.

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50
Q

Microphone

A

A device for capturing sound.

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51
Q

Camera

A

A device to capture still or moving images.

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52
Q

Bar code

A

A pattern of thin and thick lines representing a number that can be scanned by a reader for input into a computer system.

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53
Q

RFID

A

Radio Frequency Identification - uses radio frequencies to represent a number that can be scanned for input into a computer system.

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54
Q

Sensor

A

A device that can detect physical conditions such as temperature, weight, light, sound etc.

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55
Q

Accumulator

A

A register in the CPU that stores data currently being used by the CPU.

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56
Q

ACID

A

Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability - a set of rules that protects a database from errors during a transaction.

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57
Q

Actuator

A

A device to produce physical movement based on output from a computer system.

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58
Q

Address

A

A location in main memory used to store data or instructions.

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59
Q

Algorithm

A

A series of steps designed to solve a mathematical or other problem.

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60
Q

Analogue

A

Refers to continuously changing values.

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61
Q

Applet

A

A small application that performs one specific task.

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62
Q

Application

A

Software designed to carry out a useful real-world task.

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63
Q

ASCII

A

American Standard Code for Information Interchange - 7 bit system to code the character set of a computer.

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64
Q

Assembler

A

Software that translates assembly language code into machine code.

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65
Q

Assembly language

A

A low-level programming language that uses more memorable mnemonic codes and labels to represent machine-level code. Each instruction corresponds to just one machine operation.

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66
Q

Attribute

A

A characteristic or property of an entity. It becomes a field in a data table.

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67
Q

Auto documentation

A

System that tracks variables, modules and comments for maintenance purposes.

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68
Q

Bit rate

A

The space available for each sample in digital sound, measured in kilobits per second (kbits/s).

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69
Q

Boolean

A

A value that can only be true or false.

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70
Q

CD

A

A type of optical storage with a capacity of 700MB

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71
Q

Character

A

A single alphabetic, numeric or punctuation character.

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72
Q

Character set

A

The characters available to a computer.

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73
Q

CHR

A

Function that uses the ASCII value to look up the character associated with a particular number.

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74
Q

Client

A

Software or hardware that requests services from a server.

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75
Q

Code editor

A

Text are used to enter code in an IDE.

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76
Q

Colour depth

A

The number of bits used for each pixel or dot. The more bits, the more colours that can be represented. Also known as bit depth.

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77
Q

Command line

A

The place where typed commands are given to the operating system.

78
Q

Comparison

A

Comparing the values of two items and returning True or False depending upon the result of that comparison.

79
Q

Compiler

A

A translator that converts all of the source code to machine code in one go to produce the object code.

80
Q

Compression

A

Reduction in file size to reduce download times and storage requirements.

81
Q

Concatenation

A

Combining two strings into a single string.

82
Q

Constant

A

A label referring to a location in memory containing a value that can be accessed but not changed by a program.

83
Q

Custom written

A

Software developed specially for one or a very few customers.

84
Q

Data dictionary

A

The stored schema of a database.

85
Q

Data integrity

A

The state of data being as it should be, reflecting reality.

86
Q

Data redundancy

A

The unnecessary repetition of data.

87
Q

Debugger

A

Software that helps a programmer track down faults in a program.

88
Q

Decision box

A

A flowchart symbol used to show a decision stage. May be “yes”, “no” or multiple values.

89
Q

Declaration

A

Identifying a variable, constant or array to a program so that memory space can be allocated.

90
Q

Decode

A

An instruction is decoded by the CPU into two parts - the operator and the operand.

91
Q

Dedicated

A

Something which is designed for one particular purpose.

92
Q

Defragmenter

A

A utility that brings together file fragments on a disc and collects all the free space in one area.

93
Q

Denary

A

A system of numbers using ten digits, 0-9. Also called the base 10 system.

94
Q

Device driver

A

A program that enables communication between a computer and a peripheral.

95
Q

Disc organisation

A

The process of arranging files and data bytes on a secondary storage device.

96
Q

Domain name

A

A human readable name for a resource on a network. It is changed to a numerical IP address by a DNS server.

97
Q

DVD

A

Digital Versatile Disc, a type of optical device with a capacity of 4.7GB.

98
Q

Editor

A

Software used for entering source code when writing a program.

99
Q

Entity

A

Something that we store data about in a database.

100
Q

Entity relationship diagram

A

A diagram that shows how different entities used in a database are connected.

101
Q

Erroneous

A

Data that would not normally be expected, such as the wrong data type.

102
Q

Error diagnostics

A

System to warn of errors in the code and potential problems.

103
Q

Extreme

A

Test data at the limits of valid or invalid to check boundary conditions.

104
Q

Failover

A

Automatic switching to a backup computer system in the event of system failure.

105
Q

Field

A

A characteristic or property of something stored in a database.

106
Q

File

A

Stored data on suitable media.

107
Q

Firewall

A

Software and/or hardware that limits access to and from a computer system.

108
Q

Firmware

A

Software that is stored permanently in a device, such as control programs for devices.

109
Q

Flat file database

A

Database consisting of only one table.

110
Q

Flow chart / flow diagram

A

A diagrammatic method of showing the structure and data flow to define a problem and its solution.

111
Q

Gigabyte

A

1024 megabytes (1000 megabytes is acceptable).

112
Q

Graphical User Interface

A

A user interface that makes use of icons for interacting with the user.

113
Q

Hexadecimal

A

The base-16 number system.

114
Q

High-level language

A

A programming language that resembles a natural language. Each instruction translates to many machine instructions. It is problem based rather than machine based.

115
Q

Hub

A

A device for connecting multiple network devices in one segment.

116
Q

Hyperlink

A

An item on a web page that directs the user to another location when clicked.

117
Q

Icon

A

A picture on screen that represents a file, program or action.

118
Q

Indexed sequential file

A

A sequential file that is accessed using an index, which is a separate file.

119
Q

Input device

A

A hardware device used to input data into a computer system for processing.

120
Q

Instructions

A

A set of commands that a processor can recognise and act upon.

121
Q

Integer

A

Whole number, positive or negative, with no decimal or fractional part.

122
Q

Integrated development environment (IDE)

A

Resources supplied with high-level languages to help the programmer.

123
Q

Interface

A

The boundary between systems or between systems and humans.

124
Q

Interpreter

A

Translation software that converts source code or user input into machine code which is immediately executed one instruction at a time.

125
Q

Interrupt

A

A signal to the operating system to stop what it is doing and perform a different task instead.

126
Q

Intranet

A

A private data resource using the same technology as the internet, such as browsers and protocols.

127
Q

Invalid

A

Data used to test a program that should be rejected because it is out of range.

128
Q

IP address

A

A number that identifies a device on a TCP/IP network.

129
Q

LAN

A

Local Area Network - confined to one location.

130
Q

Linker

A

Software that combines together a number of separate object code files.

131
Q

Logic error

A

When the logical structure of a program produces unexpected results.

132
Q

Low-level language

A

A programming language that is directed at controlling each machine operation.

133
Q

Machine code

A

Instructions in binary used by the CPU.

134
Q

Hard disc

A

Secondary storage device using magnetised platters to store data and files.

135
Q

Metadata

A

Information about image data that allows the computer to recreate the image from the binary data in the file. This must contain the height and width in pixels and the colour depth in bits per pixel.

136
Q

Monitor

A

An output device that can display images and text.

137
Q

Nesting

A

Structures inside other structures.

138
Q

Nibble

A

4 bits (half a byte).

139
Q

Object code

A

The machine code produced by a compiler.

140
Q

Off the shelf

A

Software that is aimed at many users and sold “as is”.

141
Q

One to many

A

A relationship where one record in a table may have links to many records in another table.

142
Q

Operand

A

The part of the instruction that tells the CPU what to apply the operation to.

143
Q

Operating system

A

The software that controls the hardware. Acts as an interface between the user and the hardware and also between the applications and the hardware.

144
Q

Operator (programming)

A

A logical, arithmetical or comparison operator used by the program.

145
Q

Operator (assembly language)

A

The part of the instruction that tells the CPU what to do.

146
Q

Optical disc

A

Secondary storage device using lasers to read (and in some cases write) data to a reflective surface.

147
Q

Overflow

A

When a number becomes too large to fit into the number of bits allocated it is said to “overflow”. Some bits are “lost”, leaving an incorrect value.

148
Q

Peer to peer

A

A network arrangement where all computers are equal.

149
Q

Pixel

A

The smallest element of an image. The dots that make up the image on screen.

150
Q

Platform

A

A combination of hardware and operating system that supports the running of particular operations.

151
Q

Printer

A

A device to produce physical copies of output from a computer system.

152
Q

Process box

A

A flow chart symbol that defines any processing to be completed at that stage.

153
Q

Process (in a program)

A

A program currently being executed.

154
Q

Program

A

A stored set of instructions for a computer to execute.

155
Q

Program counter

A

A register in the CPU that keeps the address of the next instruction.

156
Q

Programming language

A

A way of writing instructions for a computer to execute.

157
Q

Protocol

A

A set of rules or standards that control communications between devices.

158
Q

Raster

A

Graphics format consisting of a matrix of dots. Also known as a bitmap.

159
Q

Real

A

A number that can have fractional or decimal parts.

160
Q

Record

A

All the data about one item in a database.

161
Q

Register

A

Special fast access part of the CPU that stores data in use by the CPU.

162
Q

Resolution

A

The number of pixels or dots per unit in a bitmap image, for example ppi (pixels per inch) or dpi (dots per inch).

163
Q

Run time environment

A

Software to support the execution of programs.

164
Q

Sample rate

A

The number of times a sound is sampled per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

165
Q

Schema

A

Definition of a database.

166
Q

Selection

A

The pathway through a program is selected by using a condition to decide on what instructions to execute next.

167
Q

Self-booting

A

The ability of a program to load itself. Some small devices load their applications directly without the need for a conventional operating system.

168
Q

Sequential file

A

A serial file in order.

169
Q

Serial file

A

A file of items one after another.

170
Q

Server

A

Software that provides services to a client, or the hardware that is running it.

171
Q

Shell

A

Software that provides a traditional text based interface to an operating system.

172
Q

Software engineering

A

Formal methods to guide the writing of software.

173
Q

Source code

A

The program written by the end user in a high-level language before it is converted to machine code.

174
Q

Speaker

A

A device to output sound.

175
Q

Spyware

A

Malicious software that detects what a user is doing and sends the details back to the originator.

176
Q

Switch

A

A device for connecting multiple network devices. Inspects packets and only sends them to the correct destinations.

177
Q

Syntax error

A

The rules of the language are broken by the program.

178
Q

Terabyte

A

1024 gigabytes (1000 gigabytes is acceptable)

179
Q

Trace

A

A method of using data to check that an algorithm covers all possibilities correctly.

180
Q

Translator

A

A program to convert high-level or assembly-level commands into machine code.

181
Q

Trojan

A

Harmful software that is disguised as something useful.

182
Q

Unicode

A

A 16 or 32 bit system to code the character set of a computer.

183
Q

User interface

A

The boundary between the computer and the user.

184
Q

Utility

A

A small program designed to carry out a limited maintenance task.

185
Q

Valid

A

Test data that represents normal, expected data.

186
Q

Validation

A

The process of checking that data is correct or appropriate.

187
Q

Variable

A

A label referring to a location in memory containing a value that can be accessed or changed by a program.

188
Q

Verification

A

The process of checking that data is true or accurate.

189
Q

Virus detection

A

The process of discovering possibly harmful viruses in a computer system.

190
Q

WAN

A

Wide Area Network - covers a large geographical area.

191
Q

Web server

A

A server than handles requests to a website.

GCSE Computing (1 decks)

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