Unit 3 Vocabulary Words
Memory
The area in the computer that temporarily holds data waiting to be
processed
RAM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It is the memory that
holds your data as you manipulate (process) it. The data stays in
RAM until you save it. RAM is volatile which means ‘temporary
memory
ROM stands for Read Only Memory. ROM contains the instructions
the computer uses when it ‘boots up’. Because the data is ‘read
only’, it can be read but not changed by the user. The data is not
erased when the computer is switched off—the data is stored
permanently. This is called ‘non-volatile memory’. Therefore, ROM
is “permanent memory”
ROM
Binary Code
Bit
Binary code is the language that computers use to communicate
and process information. It is a coding system using the 0 and 1 to
represent a letter, digit, or symbols in a computer or other
electronic device
Each 0 or 1 is called a bit. A bit is the smallest unit of information
that a computer handles
Byte
A combination of eight bits is called a byte. One byte (8 bits)
represents a single letter, symbol, or digit.
Kilobyte
Approximately one thousand bytes
Megabyte
Approximately one million bytes
Gigabyte
Terabyte
Approximately one billion bytes
Storage
The place in the computer where data is held while it is not
needed for processing
Magnetic
Storage
Hard Drive
A means of recording or saving data onto disks or tape by
magnetizing particles
Approximately one trillion bytes
A mass storage device located inside the computer’s system unit
(tower
External Hard
Drive
Floppy Disk
A hard drive that has its own separate case and sit outside of your
computer’s system unit
Magnetic Tape
Used by some businesses to backup and archive large amounts of
data.
Optical Storage
Optical storage is the use of low powered lasers to save (burn) and
read data from CDs and DVDs.
CD
DVD
Electronic
Storage
Compact Disk
Flash Drive
A portable storage device that uses electronic storage and has an
integrated USB port
Memory Card
A memory card is also known as a flash card, SD Card or memory
stick
Cloud
Computing
CD-ROM
CD-R
CD-RW
Volatile
Non-Volatile
SaaS
Photos and Videos, Services, Music, Documents, Calendar, Apps,
Email, Data Storage and Backup
Solid State Drive
The floppy disk, once an icon of the computer age, is becoming
obsolete
Electronic storage is the use of a chip to electronically save, erase or
reprogram data. Examples of devices that use Electronic Storage:
– SD (secured digital) Cards, Flash Drives, Solid State
Drives
Temporary Memory, can be deleted
Permanent Memory, cannot be changed.
Software as a Service. No need to buy software and install it on your
computer. SaaS allows you to rent access to software. Software is
not installed on your PC—instead it is installed and run on
computers operated by a software supplier
It means that data is stored to devices via electronic
semiconductors that are built from solid materials that have no
moving parts