Karnataka KSEAB II PUC Information Technology (Vocational) key terms

The main chip that fetches, decodes and executes program instructions, performing arithmetic and logical operations and coordinating all other hardware units in a computer system.

The part of the processor that carries out arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction and logical comparisons such as AND, OR and NOT on data held in registers.

A very small, very fast storage location inside the processor used to hold the operands and results of the instruction currently being executed.

Fast semiconductor storage that the processor accesses directly, namely RAM for running programs and ROM for permanent start-up instructions; its contents are volatile in the case of RAM.

Read/write memory that holds programs and data while the computer is switched on; its contents are lost when power is removed, so work must be saved to secondary storage.

Non-volatile memory whose contents are written during manufacture and normally only read afterwards; it stores firmware such as the start-up routine that loads the operating system.

A small, high-speed memory placed between the processor and main memory that keeps frequently used instructions and data so that average access time is reduced.

Non-volatile devices such as hard disks, solid-state drives and pen drives that keep programs and files permanently when the computer is switched off.

A set of parallel conducting lines that carries data, addresses and control signals between the processor, memory and input/output devices.

Any input, output or storage device connected to the computer unit, for example a keyboard, monitor, printer or scanner, that exchanges data with the processor.

The start-up sequence in which firmware runs self-tests, locates the operating system on secondary storage and loads it into main memory so the computer becomes usable.

System software that manages hardware resources, schedules processes, controls memory and storage, and provides services and a user interface for application programs.

The method an operating system uses to name, store, organise and retrieve files and folders on a storage device, including rules for paths and permissions.

The text that specifies the location of a file or folder, either from the root of a drive (absolute) or from the current folder (relative).

The suffix after the final dot in a file name, such as .docx or .csv, that tells the operating system which application should open the file.

A small software component that lets the operating system communicate with a particular hardware device by translating general commands into device-specific instructions.

A word processor feature that automatically moves a word to the next line when it will not fit at the right margin, so no Enter key press is needed.

A named collection of formatting settings such as font, size, spacing and alignment that can be applied to text and changed everywhere at once.

An automatically generated list of headings with page numbers, built from heading styles so that it can be refreshed whenever the document changes.

A word processing facility that combines one main document with a data source of records to produce many personalised copies such as letters or labels.

The address of a spreadsheet cell formed by its column letter and row number, for example C5, used in formulas to point at the value stored there.

A cell address written with dollar signs, such as $B$2, that keeps the same row and column when a formula is copied to other cells.

An expression typed into a spreadsheet cell, beginning with an equals sign, that calculates a result from values, cell references, operators and functions.

A built-in calculation such as SUM, AVERAGE, IF or COUNT that takes arguments and returns a single value, saving the user from writing the logic manually.

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

The top-level slide in a presentation that stores fonts, colours, placeholders and background layout, so edits there apply consistently to all slides that use it.

The visual effect played when the presentation moves from one slide to the next, as distinct from animation, which affects objects within a slide.

An effect applied to text, images or other objects on a slide to control how they appear, move or disappear during the show.

The integration of text, images, audio, video and animation into a single digital presentation or application to convey information more effectively.

Reducing the size of a file by removing redundancy or detail; lossless methods keep all data intact, while lossy methods discard some quality for smaller size.

A column or combination of columns whose values uniquely identify each row in a table, so duplicates and nulls are not allowed in it.

A column in one table that holds values matching the primary key of another table, creating a link between the two tables and enforcing referential integrity.

Software that stores, retrieves and manages data in a structured way, handling definitions, queries, security and concurrent access while hiding physical storage details from users.

The standard language for defining, querying and manipulating relational databases, with statements such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE.

A single attribute or column of a database table, such as Name or Roll_Number, that holds one type of data for every record.

One complete row in a database table, made up of related field values that together describe a single entity such as one student.

A finite, ordered set of unambiguous steps that solves a problem or performs a task, written before coding and independent of any programming language.

A diagram that shows the steps of an algorithm using standard symbols such as ovals for start and end, parallelograms for input and output, and diamonds for decisions.

A structured, English-like description of an algorithm that uses programming constructs such as IF and WHILE but follows no strict syntax rules.

A named memory location whose stored value can change while a program runs; it has a data type and must be declared before use in many languages.

The classification of a value, such as integer, float, character, string or Boolean, that determines what operations are allowed and how much memory is used.

A control structure that repeats a block of statements while a condition holds or for a fixed number of times, avoiding duplicated code.

The markup language used to structure web pages through elements and tags such as headings, paragraphs, lists, links and images that browsers interpret and display.

The address that identifies a resource on the internet, typically giving the protocol, domain name and path, for example https://example.com/page.html.

The request-response protocol used by browsers and web servers to transfer web pages and other resources, with HTTPS adding encryption for security.

A numeric label assigned to each device on a network so that data can be routed to it; IPv4 uses four octets and IPv6 uses a much longer format.

A human-readable name such as example.com that maps to an IP address through the Domain Name System, making addresses easier to remember.

A local area network covering a small area such as a school lab or office, usually owned privately and offering high speed with low error rates.

A network device that forwards data packets between different networks by choosing a path from its routing table, connecting a LAN to the internet.

Converting readable data into an unreadable form using a key so that only authorised parties can restore it, protecting information in transit and at rest.

A fraud in which attackers send fake messages or links that imitate trusted organisations to trick users into revealing passwords, OTPs or banking details.

Any software written to harm or exploit a system, including viruses, worms, trojans and ransomware, often spread through downloads and attachments.

Hardware or software that inspects network traffic and permits or blocks it according to rules, helping to keep unauthorised users away from a computer or network.

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

A network of everyday physical devices fitted with sensors and connectivity that collect and exchange data, such as smart meters and fitness bands.