COMPUTER TERMS
PROCESSOR
The central processing unit (CPU) interprets
and executes instructions.
 The “brains” of the computer.
 The speed of the processor is how fast it can
carry out instructions.

 Generally
higher numbers are better.
 Measured in hertz (Hz)
BIT

The word bit is a shortening of the words
"Binary digIT." Bits have only two possible
values: 0 and 1. You can also think of a bit as
a switch; it is either on (1) or off (0). A bit is the
foundation for storing digital information.
BYTE
Short for “Binary Term”
 Equal to 8 bits.

 Kilobyte
(KB) = 1,024 bytes {Kilo = 1 thousand}
 Megabyte (MB) = 1,048,576 bytes {Mega = 1
million}
 Gigabyte (GB) = 1,073,741,824 bytes {Giga = 1
billion}
 Terabyte (TB) = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes {Tera = 1
trillion}
FLASH DRIVE

A storage device usually plugged into a USB
port.
HARD DRIVE
Component for storing programs, photos, video,
music and other electronic information.
 The capacity (size) of your hard drive is how
much information it can store (GB, TB).

RAM
RAM is short for Random Access Memory.
 The memory used to run programs.
 Greater amounts of RAM improve speed and
multitasking.

 May
be increased (expandable) through additional
equipment.
KEYBOARD

A device that translates what is typed
(numbers, letters, etc.) into a language that the
computer understands (0’s and 1’s).
DISPLAY TYPE
A display is an output device for your computer
that shows text and graphics.
Types:
 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

 Most

energy efficient
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
 Very
energy efficient
OTHER CONTROL DEVICE (MOUSE)
An input device for a computer that senses
motion and translates that motion to an icon on
the display.
 The icon representing the motion of the mouse
is called a cursor.

USB
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus
 A USB connection allows you to connect
another device (such as a printer, camera,
speaker, etc.) to a computer

TOWER

A computer case that houses most of the
components (parts) that make up a computer