COMPUTER BASICS VOCABULARY
Binary
The language of the computer uses ones and zeros.
Hardware can only understand binary.
Bit
One piece of information. The capacity of computer
storage or how much can be stored is measured in bits.
Boot Process
The steps the computer goes through to start up:
Power Turned On
CPU is identified
ROM is read and instructions followed
RAM is identified and files temporarily stored
Hardware and peripheral devices are located
Operating System takes over
8 bits of information. Used to measure amount of storage
available to store data.
Byte
CD/DVD
Optical storage media. The CD/DVD drive uses a laser light
to write data to this medial
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The heart of the computer. All information flows through
the CPU which directs the data to various places such as to
the monitor or to the hard drive.
Storage that uses flash memory for storing and
transferring data. Although this is storage, because it uses
memory is not the same as a hard disk, CD or DVD.
1,024 megabytes or
1 billion bytes
Used to measure amount of storage available to store
data.
How fast a computer can move information through
computer hardware. Megahertz used to be fast but now
computers use gigahertz and terahertz speeds.
A piece of hardware that allows images (pictures, graphics)
to display on the computer monitor.
Flash Drive
Gigabyte
Gigahertz
Graphics Card
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
The ability to see pictures on your screen and use the
mouse to access program shortcuts.
Hard Disk Drive
Hardware used to write information to disk.
Hardware
The physical components of the computer or the
computer parts that you can touch with your hand.
Icons
A picture that allows access to a program.
Input Devices
Hardware that allows information to be put into the
computer. Such as: keyboard, mouse, microphone,
camera, etc.
1,024 bytes of information.
Used to measure amount of storage available to store
data.
A hard disk drive uses magnets to store data so the hard
disk drive is sometimes called “magnetic storage.” Old
movies were recorded on VHS tapes. A popular computer
data backup storage system is similar to VHS or video
tapes which uses magnets to write the data to the tape.
Used to store large amounts of data such as school
records, income and property tax records, health records
and more.
Storage for files and program. The platter inside a hard
drive, CDs, and DVDs are considered storage media.
Kilobyte
Magnetic Storage
Mainframe
Media
Megabyte
Megahertz
Microprocessor
Modem
1,048,576 bytes or
1,024 kilobytes
Used to measure amount of storage available to store
data.
How fast a computer can move information through
computer hardware. Megahertz used to be fast but now
computers use gigahertz and terahertz speeds.
As information is flowing through the CPU it is converted
to binary. Sometimes the CPU is called the “processor” or
“microprocessor.”
Hardware that allows the computer to connect over
telephone lines and cable to other computers.
Motherboard
Mouse
The main piece inside the computer that holds all the
other part together. The mother board also provides the
wire that data flows along from one point to another.
A device used to point to objects and text on a computer
screen.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
A piece of hardware that allows computers to access a
network.
Optical Storage
Optical storage devices use a laser light to write
information to a CD or DVD.
Output Devices
Hardware that allows information to be taken out of the
computer. Such as: printers, speakers, headphones, etc.
Peripheral
Any hardware that is plugged into the outside of the
computer such as monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers,
headphones, camera, printer, etc.
Small computers, least expensive, and used for individual
work and play.
Personal Computer
Processor
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Read Only Memory (ROM)
Sound Card
Storage Devices
Supercomputer
As information is flowing through the CPU it is converted
to binary. Sometimes the CPU is called the “processor” or
“microprocessor.”
Temporary memory. Used for storage of programs and
files while the program or file is being used. Whatever is
stored in RAM is lost when the power is turned off.
Permanent memory that stores start up information.
Information in ROM is still there even if the computer is
turned off.
A piece of hardware that allows the computer to play
audio (sound).
Hardware that stores programs and files onto media.
Hardware such as the hard disk drive and the CD/DVD
drive. This is different from “media.”
Larger, faster, and more expensive computers. Used by
governments, military, and for scientific research and
calculations.
System Unit
The box that contains all the hardware that runs the
computer such as the motherboard, RAM, and ROM, etc.
Terabyte
1,024 gigabytes or
1 trillion bytes
Used to measure amount of storage available to store
data.
How fast a computer can move information through
computer hardware. Megahertz used to be fast but now
computers use gigahertz and terahertz speeds.
Used to store data (information) into memory. This type
of storage is different from other storage because the data
is stored electronically. Older storage systems physically
write or change the storage media.
Terahertz
USB/Flash