Basic Computer Terms

Microsoft – a software company owned by Bill Gates

Microsoft Windows – an operating system made by the Microsoft company
Desktop – the screen you see first when your computer turns on. This screen has many icons
Laptop – a portable computer that you can carry with you
Hardware – all the parts of the computer that you can touch: (the monitor, CPU, printer, mouse, and
the keyboard) ; the place inside your computer where programs and files are stored; the physical parts
of a computer
Software – another word for PROGRAM/APPLICATION or instructions in the computer that help
it do different tasks; instructions executed by a computer
Headset – earphones and a microphone that you wear on your head
Icon- symbols or pictures that you can click on to perform an action. Each program has its own icon.
Keyboard – like a typewriter, it’s where you type and enter numbers and letters. It is one way to tell
the computer what you want it to do.
Monitor – computer screen
Mouse – the tool you can use command the computer what to do. You can open programs and files
by clicking or double clicking.
Operating System – the most important program in a computer. This program is like the manager of
all of the other programs
Clicking – pointing to something on the screen and then pushing the button on the mouse
Cursor – the line or arrow that control by moving the mouse
Dialog Box –a window that opens and asks questions.
Document – anything you create in a Microsoft Word
File – a piece of computer information such as a document or part of a computer program
Folder – like a file folder in a filing cabinet, a file is where documents (letters, spreadsheets, etc.) are
kept.
Disk Drive - A peripheral device that reads and/or writes information on a disk
Hard Drive - A device (usually within the computer case) that reads and writes information,
including the operating system, program files, and data files
Keyboard - A peripheral used to input data by pressing keys
Modem - A peripheral device used to connect one computer to another over a phone line
Monitor - A device used to display information visually
Mouse - A peripheral device used to point to items on a monitor
Printer - A peripheral device that converts output from a computer into a printed image
Applications - Complete, self-contained programs that perform a specific function (ie. spreadsheets,
databases)
Bit - A computer's most basic unit of information
Boot - The process of loading or initializing an operating system on a computer; usually occurs as
soon as a computer is turned on
Browser - A program used to view World Wide Web pages, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet
Explorer
Bug - A part of a program that usually causes the computer to malfunction; often remedied in patches
or updates to the program
Byte - Small unit of data storage; 8 bits; usually holds one character
Click - Occurs when a user presses a button on a mouse which in turn, generates a command to the
computer
Database - A large structured set of data; a file that contains numerous records that contain numerous
fields
Diskette - A small flexible disk used for storing computer data
Double Click - Occurs when a user presses a button on the mouse twice in quick succession; this
generates a command to the computer
Download - Transferring data from another computer to your computer
Drag - Occurs when a user points the mouse at an icon or folder, presses the button and without
releasing the button, moves the icon or folder to another place on the computer where the button is
released
Driver - Software program that controls a piece of hardware or a peripheral
File - Namable unit of data storage; an element of data storage; a single sequence of bytes
Folder - A graphical representation used to organize a collection of computer files; as in the concept
of a filing cabinet (computer's hard drive) with files (folders)
Freeware - Software provided at no cost to the user
Gigabyte - 1,073,741,824 bytes or 1,024 megabytes; generally abbreviated GB
Icon - A small picture used to represent a file or program in a GUI interface
Internet - A network of computer networks encompassing the World Wide Web, FTP, telnet, and
many other protocols
Kilobyte - 1,024 bytes; usually abbreviated KB
Megabyte - 1,048,576 bytes or 1,024 kilobytes; enough storage to approximately equal a 600 page
paperback book; generally abbreviated Mb
Memory - Any device that holds computer data
Menu - A list of operations available to the user of a program
Network - A collection of computers that are connected
Peripheral -Any of a number of hardware devices connected to a CPU
Scroll Bar - Allows the user to control which portion of the document is visible in the window;
available either horizontally or vertically or both
Shareware - Software provided at a minimal cost to users who are on their honor to send in payment
to the programmer
Spreadsheet - A program arranged in rows and columns that manipulates numbers
Tool Bar - A graphical representation of program activities; a row of icons used to perform tasks in a
program
Virus - A deliberately harmful computer program designed to create annoying glitches or destroy
data
Window - A screen in a software program that permits the user to view several programs at one time
Word Processor - A program that allows the user to create primarily text documents
Adware – free software that is supported by advertisements
Antivirus –is a software designed to prevent, detect and remove viruses from a computer
Firewall - a barrier between a network and the Internet through which only authorized users can
pass; set of security policies to screen incoming and outgoing messages; also used to isolate one part
of a network from another
Highlight - to select by clicking once on an icon or by highlighting text in a document.
Kilobyte - 1024 bytes.
Megabyte - 1024 kilobytes.
Peripheral - an add-on component to your computer.
save - to write a file onto a disk.
save as - (a File menu item) to save a previously saved file in a new location and/or with a new name.
scroll - to shift the contents of a window to bring hidden items into view.
scroll bar - a bar at the bottom or right side of a window that contains the scroll box and allows
scrolling.
scroll box - the box in a scroll bar that is used to navigate through a window.
shut down - the command from the Special menu that shuts down the unit safely.
upload - to send a file from one computer to another through a network.
Cursor – blinking signal to show where the next character will be displayed
Menu- list of choices in a program
Character - A single letter, figure, punctuation mark, or symbol produced by a keystroke on a
Computer
Space Bar – key that moves the cursor one space
Enter – key the moves the cursor down to the next line
Capslock/Shift (Right & Left) – keys that make capital or uppercase letters
Spell Check – a tool for checking spelling and grammar
Bold – a font style that makes letters and words darker
Italic – a font style that slants words to the right
Font – the way letters, numbers or words look
Minimize – to move a window to the bottom of the screen without closing the window
Maximize – to expand a window to the full size of the screen
Restore – to make a window smaller so that you can change the size or position
Cut - to remove text from its original location and place it on a clipboard.
Cut and paste - to move a block of text from one place to another.
Network - A system of interconnected computers.
Patch - A small program that improves an existing piece of software or corrects an error in it.
Protocol - A set of standards that permits computers to exchange information and communicate with
each other.
Shouting - The use of all capital letters in e-mail.
Compatibility - The ability of one type of computer to share information or to communicate with
another type of computer.
Cookie - A devise that permits a Web site to identify and collect information about every user who
visits that site.
Cracker - The preferred term to refer to a computer criminal who penetrates a computer program to
steal information or damage the program in some way.
Crash - A malfunction in hardware or software that keeps a computer from functioning.
Default settings - The pre-established settings that a program will follow unless the user changes
them.
Mouse potato - A person who sits glued to a computer screen

FAQ (Frequently asked question) - documents that answer questions common to a particular website
or program
USB (Universal Serial Bus) – a drive that you can save information on. Also called a flash drive,
jump drive, or thumb drive.
IPA (Internet Protocol Address)- a computer's unique address or number on the Internet
GUI – (Graphical user interface) uses pictures and words to represent ideas, choices, functions, etc.
RAM (Random access memory) - the type of storage that changes; when the computer is turned off,
the RAM memory is erased
CPU – (Central Processing Unit) - the brain of the computer; controls the other elements of the
computer; where all of the information you put into the computer is stored
NIC (Network Interface Card) - a board inserted in a computer that provides a physical connection to
a network
ROM (Read-only memory) - the type of storage that is not changed even when the computer is
turned off
URL (Uniform resource locator) - the address of a site on the World Wide Web; a standard way of
locating objects on the Internet
LAN (Local Area Network) - network that operates within a small geographic area, usually within a
building, office, or department
DNS (Domain Name System) - service that connects a domain name to an IP address
HTML (Hypertext markup language) -The formatting language used to establish the appearance of a
Web page.
SMS – short messaging system
MMS – multimedia messaging system
WiFi – Wireless Fidelity
WAN – Wide Area Network