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CSE 142 > Chapter 1 vocab > Flashcards

Chapter 1 vocab Flashcards

Vocabulary from CSE142 ch1 (66 cards)

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1
Q

computer

A

a machine that can receive, store, transform, and output data of all kinds.

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2
Q

Computer chip (Microprocessor chip)

A

a silicon chip containing the circuitry for a computer processor

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3
Q

hardware

A

the actual computer equipment

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4
Q

Software

A

The set of programs associated with a computer

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5
Q

Program

A

a list of instructions that enables a computer to perform a specific task.

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6
Q

Binary Number

A

a number whose digits are 0 and 1

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7
Q

memory cell

A

an individual storage location in memory

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8
Q

address of a memory cell

A

the relative position of a memory cell in the computers main memory

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9
Q

contents of a memory cell

A

the information stored in a memory cell, either a program instruction or data

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10
Q

stored program concept

A

a computer’s ability to store program instructions in main memory for execution

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11
Q

byte

A

the amount of storage required to store a single character

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12
Q

bit

A

a binary digit

ex: 0 or 1

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13
Q

data storage

A

setting the individual bits of a memory cell to 0 or 1, destroying its previous contents

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14
Q

data retrieval

A

copying the contents of a particular memory cell to another storage area

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15
Q

random access memory (RAM)

A

the part of main memory that temporarily stores programs, data, and results

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16
Q

read-only memory (ROM)

A

the part of main memory that permanently stores programs or data

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17
Q

volatile memory

A

memory whose contents disappear when the computer is switched off

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18
Q

secondary storage

A

units such as disks or flash drives that retain data even when the power is off

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19
Q

disk

A

thin platter of metal or plastic on which data are represented by magnetized spots arranged in tracks

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20
Q

optical drive

A

device that uses a laser to access or store data on a CD or DVD

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21
Q

flash drive

A

device that plugs into USB port and stores data bits as trapped electrons

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22
Q

file

A

named collection of data stored on a disk

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23
Q

directory

A

list of the names of files that relate to a particular topic

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24
Q

subdirectory

A

a list of the names of files that relate to a particular topic

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25
central processing unit (CPU)
coordinates all computer operations and performs arithmetic and logical operations on data
26
fetching an instruction
retrieving an instruction from main memory
27
register
high-speed memory location inside the CPU
28
multiprocessor
a computer with more than one CPU
29
cursor
a moving place marker that appears on the monitor
30
function keys
special keyboard keys used to select a particular operation; operation selected depends on the program being used
31
mouse
an input device that moves its cursor on the computer screen to select an operation
32
icon
a picture representing a computer operation
33
hard copy
a printed version of ainformation
34
local area network (LAN)
computers, printers, scanners, and storage devices connected by cables for intercommunication
35
file server
the computer in a network that controls access to a secondary storage device such as a hard disk
36
wide area network (WAN)
a network such as the Internet that connects computers and LANs over a large geographic area
37
World Wide Web (WWW)
a part of the Internet whose graphical user interfaces make associated network resources easily navigable
38
graphical user interface (GUI)
pictures and menus displayed to allow user to select commands and data
39
modem
a device that converts binary data into audio signals that can be transmitted between computers over telephone lines
40
DSL connection (digital subscriber line)
a high-speed Internet connection that uses a telephone line and does not interfere with simultaneous voice communication on the same line
41
cable internet access
two-way high-speed transmission of Internet data through two of the hundreds of channels available over the coaxial cable that carries cable television signals
42
operating system (OS)
software that controls interaction of user and computer hardware and that manages allocation of computer resources
43
booting a computer
loading the operating system from disk into memory
44
booting a computer
loading the operating system from disk into memory
45
application
software used for a specific task such as word processing, accounting, or database management
46
install
make an application available on a computer by copying it to the computer's hard drive
47
machine language
binary number codes understood by a specific CPU
48
assembly language
mnemonic codes that correspond to machine language instructions
49
high-level language
machine independent programming language that combines algebraic expressions and English symbols
50
compiler
software that translates a high-level language program into machine language
51
source file
file containing a program written in a high-level language; the input for a compiler
52
syntax
grammar rules of a programming language
53
object file
file of machine language instructions that is the output of a compiler
54
linker
software that combines object files and resolves cross-references to create an executable machine language program
55
integrated development environment (IDE)
software package combining a work processor, compiler, linker, loader, and tools for finding errors
56
input data
the data values that are scanned by a program
57
program output
the lines displayed by a program
58
abstraction
the process of modeling a problem by extracting the essential variables and their relationships
59
algorithm
a list of steps for solving a problem
60
top-down design
breaking a problem into its major sub problems and then solving the subproblems
61
step-wise refinement
development of a detailed list of steps to solve a particular step in the original algorithm
62
desk checking
the step-by-step simulation of the computer execution of an algorithm
63
computer theft (computer fraud)
illegally obtaining money by falsifying information in a computer database
64
virus
code attached to another program that spreads through a computer's disk memory, disrupting the computer or erasing information
65
worm
a virus that can disrupt a network by replicating itself on other network computers
66
software piracy
violating copyright agreements by illegally copying software for use in another computer

CSE 142 (15 decks)

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