Karnataka KSEAB SSLC NSQF Information Technology flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Stored-program concept

The principle that program instructions and the data they process are stored together in the same memory, allowing the computer to fetch and execute instructions automatically in sequence.

RAM versus ROM

RAM is volatile main memory that holds running programs and loses contents on power off; ROM is non-volatile memory holding permanent firmware such as the boot program.

1s and 2s complement

The 1s complement inverts every bit of a binary number; the 2s complement adds 1 to that result and represents negative numbers, enabling subtraction through addition.

System software

Programs that manage hardware and provide a platform for applications; examples are the operating system, device drivers, utilities, and language translators such as compilers.

Booting

The startup process in which the power-on self-test checks hardware and the bootstrap loader loads the operating system kernel from secondary storage into RAM.

File extension

The suffix after the dot in a file name that identifies the file format and the program that opens it, such as .docx, .xlsx, .jpg, or .mp4.

Absolute versus relative path

An absolute path starts at the root or drive and fully locates a file; a relative path starts from the current folder and is shorter but depends on location.

Recycle Bin

A temporary storage area holding deleted files and folders so they can be restored; emptying it permanently removes the contents from the storage device.

Mail merge

A word-processing feature that combines a main document containing merge fields with a data source of records to generate one personalised copy per record.

Justified alignment

Paragraph alignment in which text is stretched so both the left and right edges are flush with the margins, adding extra space between words as needed.

Portrait versus landscape

Page orientations in page setup; portrait pages are taller than wide, while landscape pages are wider than tall and suit wide tables or charts.

Header and footer

Areas at the top and bottom margins of a document that repeat on every page and commonly hold page numbers, titles, dates, or organisation names.

Absolute cell reference

A reference written with dollar signs, such as $A$1, that keeps the same row and column when a formula is copied to another cell.

IF function

A logical spreadsheet function of the form =IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false) that returns one of two results depending on whether the condition is met.

COUNT versus COUNTA

COUNT returns the number of cells containing numbers in a range, while COUNTA returns the number of non-empty cells, including text and other values.

VLOOKUP function

A lookup function that searches the leftmost column of a table for a value and returns a value from a specified column of the matching row.

Slide master

A presentation template element that stores fonts, colours, background, and placeholder positions so that changes apply consistently to all slides.

Transition versus animation

A transition is a visual effect between one slide and the next; an animation is an effect applied to an individual object such as text or a picture within a slide.

Netiquette

Accepted rules of polite online behaviour, including clear subject lines, no writing in capitals, respecting privacy, and avoiding rude or inflammatory messages.

Alt text

A short written description attached to an image that screen readers announce, making visual content accessible to users with visual impairments.

DNS

The Domain Name System translates human-readable domain names such as www.example.com into numerical IP addresses that computers use to route traffic.

HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, which encrypts communication between browser and web server using TLS, protecting passwords and form data in transit.

Bcc field

Blind carbon copy; recipients listed here receive the email but their addresses are hidden from the To and Cc recipients.

SMTP and POP3

SMTP is the protocol used to send outgoing email, while POP3 is a protocol for downloading incoming mail from a server to a local device.

Primary key

A field or set of fields that uniquely identifies each record in a table; it cannot contain duplicate or null values.

Foreign key

A field in one table that refers to the primary key of another table, creating a relationship and enforcing referential integrity between the tables.

WHERE versus HAVING

WHERE filters individual rows before grouping in a query, while HAVING filters groups after GROUP BY has been applied.

Third normal form

A table is in 3NF when it is in 2NF and has no transitive dependency, meaning non-key fields depend only on the primary key.

Flowchart decision symbol

A diamond shape in a flowchart representing a condition with two or more exits, usually labelled Yes and No, that determines the next path.

While versus do-while

A while loop tests its condition before executing the body and may run zero times; a do-while loop tests after the body, so it runs at least once.

Two-factor authentication

A login method requiring two different proofs, such as a password plus a one-time code sent to a phone, so a stolen password alone is insufficient.

Phishing

A fraudulent message that imitates a trusted organisation to trick the recipient into revealing passwords, OTPs, or card details, often through a fake link.

SMART goals

A goal-setting check meaning Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound; it turns a vague intention into a clear target with a deadline.