CHSE Odisha Elective Information Technology key terms

A computer design in which program instructions and data share the same memory and travel over one bus between processor and storage, executed in fetch-decode-execute cycles.

The central processing unit that fetches instructions, decodes them and performs arithmetic and logical operations, coordinating all other hardware units through the control unit and ALU.

Fast, directly addressable storage such as RAM and ROM that the processor accesses while running programs; RAM is volatile and loses contents when power is removed.

Non-volatile devices such as hard disks, SSDs and pen drives that retain data permanently and hold far larger capacities than main memory, though access is slower.

A small, very fast memory between the CPU and RAM that keeps recently used instructions and data to reduce average access time.

The rate, measured in hertz or gigahertz, at which a processor's internal clock issues cycles; higher values generally mean more instructions completed per second.

Hardware that converts user actions or physical data into signals a computer can process, for example a keyboard, mouse, scanner or microphone.

Hardware that presents processed results in human-readable form, such as a monitor, printer, plotter or speaker.

Any device connected to and controlled by the computer's main processing unit, including input, output and storage devices attached through ports or wireless links.

System software that manages hardware resources, schedules programs, provides file and user interfaces, and offers services on which application software depends.

A graphical user interface presenting windows, icons, menus and a pointer so users operate the computer through visual elements rather than typed commands.

A command-line interface in which the user types text commands and receives text output, offering precise control and scriptability compared with graphical interaction.

The method and data structures an operating system uses to name, store, organise and retrieve files and folders on a storage volume.

The text that identifies a file's location, either absolute from the root or relative to the current folder, listing folders separated by a delimiter.

Application software for creating and editing formatted text documents, supporting fonts, paragraphs, tables, headers and page layout.

A feature that combines one main document containing fixed text with a data source of records to generate many personalised copies automatically.

A pre-designed document or file with fixed layout, styles and placeholders that is reused as a starting point for new documents.

The address of a spreadsheet cell formed by its column letter and row number, such as B7, used in formulas to point at values.

A cell address written with dollar signs, like $B$7, that stays fixed when a formula is copied to other cells.

An expression beginning with an equals sign that calculates a result from values, cell references, operators and built-in functions.

A named, built-in spreadsheet operation such as SUM, AVERAGE or IF that takes arguments and returns a calculated value.

A graphical representation of spreadsheet data, such as a column, pie or line chart, that makes patterns and comparisons easier to see.

A single screen-sized page of a presentation containing text, images, charts or media, shown in sequence during a slideshow.

The visual effect applied to how one slide replaces another during a slideshow, distinct from animation of objects within a slide.

An effect that controls how objects or text on a slide appear, move or disappear, adding emphasis or sequence to presented content.

The integration of text, images, audio, video and animation in one digital presentation or application to convey information richly.

Reducing file size by encoding data more efficiently; lossless methods preserve every bit, while lossy methods discard detail for smaller files.

The defined structure and encoding of a file, usually shown by its extension, which determines the software able to open it.

Database management system: software that stores, retrieves, secures and updates organised data, controlling concurrent access and enforcing integrity rules.

A column or combination of columns whose values uniquely identify each row in a table and cannot be duplicated or left empty.

A column in one table whose values must match a primary key value in another table, creating a link and enforcing referential integrity.

Structured Query Language, the standard language for defining, querying and modifying relational databases, including SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE statements.

A numeric label assigned to a device on a network so data packets can be addressed and routed to it, in IPv4 or IPv6 form.

Domain Name System: the distributed service that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses needed for routing.

An agreed set of rules governing how data is formatted, transmitted and acknowledged between devices, as with TCP/IP and HTTP.

Uniform Resource Locator: the address identifying a resource on the web, giving its protocol, server name and path.

HyperText Markup Language, which uses tags to describe the structure and content of web pages that browsers render.

A markup instruction in angle brackets that labels an element's role, often in opening and closing pairs around content.

A name-value setting written inside an element's opening tag that supplies extra information, such as an image source or link destination.

A finite, ordered set of unambiguous steps that solves a problem or completes a task, independent of any programming language.

A diagram using standard symbols and arrows to show the sequence, decisions and repetition of steps in an algorithm.

A programming construct that runs one block of instructions or another depending on whether a tested condition is true or false.

A construct that repeats a block of instructions while a condition holds or for a set number of iterations, avoiding duplicated code.

Software written to harm or exploit a system, including viruses, worms, trojans and ransomware that damage data or steal access.

A deception that impersonates a trustworthy party through fake messages or sites to trick users into revealing passwords or financial details.

Hardware or software that filters network traffic against rules, blocking unauthorised connections while permitting approved ones.

Converting readable data into ciphertext using a key so that only parties holding the correct key can restore and read it.

A credential that is long and mixes character types, avoids personal words, is unique per account and is changed if compromise is suspected.

Delivering computing services such as storage, software and processing over the internet on demand, billed by usage and managed by a provider.

The branch of computing that builds systems performing tasks associated with human intelligence, such as learning, recognition and decision-making from data.