Punjab PSEB SS Computer Application key terms

An electronic machine that accepts data, processes it according to stored instructions, and produces useful output. It combines hardware and software to perform tasks automatically with speed and accuracy.

The physical, touchable parts of a computer system, such as the processor, memory chips, keyboard, monitor, and printer. Hardware alone cannot work without instructions from software.

A set of programs and instructions that tell the hardware what to do. Software is intangible and is divided mainly into system software, like operating systems, and application software, like word processors.

Any device used to enter data and instructions into a computer, for example a keyboard, mouse, scanner, or microphone. It converts human-readable information into a form the computer can process.

A device that presents processed results from the computer to the user, such as a monitor, printer, speaker, or projector. It converts machine signals into text, images, sound, or printed pages.

The central processing unit, often called the brain of the computer. It fetches instructions, decodes them, and executes them, and contains the control unit, arithmetic logic unit, and registers.

The arithmetic logic unit inside the CPU that performs arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction and logical comparisons such as AND, OR, and greater-than tests on data.

The part of a computer that stores data and instructions for processing. It includes primary memory such as RAM and ROM and secondary storage such as hard disks and pen drives.

Random access memory, a volatile primary memory that holds programs and data currently in use. Its contents are lost when power is switched off, and it can be read and written quickly.

Read-only memory, a non-volatile memory whose contents are written during manufacture and normally cannot be changed by the user. It stores startup instructions such as the BIOS firmware.

Non-volatile storage used to keep data and programs permanently, such as hard disk drives, solid-state drives, DVDs, and pen drives. It is slower than RAM but much larger in capacity.

System software that manages hardware, memory, files, and programs and provides a user interface. Examples include Windows, Linux, Android, and macOS. It acts as a bridge between user and hardware.

A graphical user interface lets users interact with a computer using windows, icons, menus, and a pointer instead of typing text commands. It makes computing easier for beginners and casual users.

Programs designed to help users perform specific tasks, such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, photo editing, and browsing. They run on top of system software.

Application software used to create, edit, format, and print text documents. Common features include spell check, tables, headers, and page layout. Examples are Microsoft Word and LibreOffice Writer.

Application software that organises data in rows and columns of cells and performs calculations using formulas. It is widely used for budgets, marks lists, and charts. Example: Microsoft Excel.

The basic rectangular box in a spreadsheet where a row and a column meet, identified by a reference such as A1 or C5. Each cell can hold text, numbers, or a formula.

The address of a cell formed by its column letter followed by its row number, such as B7. References can be relative, absolute with dollar signs, or mixed, and control how formulas copy.

An expression entered in a spreadsheet cell that begins with an equals sign and calculates a result from values or cell references, for example =A1+B1 or =SUM(C2:C9).

A built-in spreadsheet formula that performs a calculation on supplied values, such as SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, or IF. Functions save time and reduce errors compared with long manual formulas.

A named collection of related data stored on secondary storage, such as a document, image, or program. Files are identified by a name and usually an extension like .docx or .jpg.

A container used to organise files and other folders on storage media, also called a directory. Folders help keep related files together and make searching and navigation easier.

Two or more computers connected by cables or wireless links so they can share data, files, printers, and internet access. Networks may be small, as in a lab, or worldwide.

A local area network connects computers within a limited area such as a school lab, office, or building. It is usually owned privately, offers high speed, and needs little external infrastructure.

A global network of interconnected computers that communicate using common protocols, mainly TCP/IP. It supports services such as the web, email, and video streaming across the world.

A set of agreed rules that governs how devices exchange data over a network, covering message format, timing, and error handling. Examples include TCP/IP, HTTP, and FTP.

Application software used to access and display web pages, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. It requests pages from web servers, interprets HTML and CSS, and runs web scripts.

A uniform resource locator is the address of a resource on the internet, such as a web page or file. It typically includes the protocol, domain name, and path.

A finite step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or completing a task, written so that each step is clear and unambiguous. Algorithms can be shown as pseudocode or flowcharts before coding.

A diagram that represents an algorithm using standard symbols such as ovals for start and end, parallelograms for input and output, rectangles for processes, and diamonds for decisions.

A structured, English-like way of writing an algorithm that is not tied to any programming language. It uses keywords such as READ, SET, IF, and WHILE to show logic clearly.

A sequence of instructions written in a programming language that a computer can execute to perform a task. Programs are created through coding and then compiled or interpreted.

A named storage location in a program whose value can change during execution. Each variable has a data type and a name chosen by the programmer, such as marks or total.

A classification that tells the computer what kind of value a variable holds and what operations are allowed, for example integer, float, character, string, or boolean.

A programming construct that repeats a block of statements while a condition holds or for a fixed number of times. Common forms are for, while, and do-while loops.

A programming statement that runs different blocks of code depending on whether a condition is true or false, written with if, else-if, or switch structures. It gives programs decision-making power.

A data type with only two possible values, true or false. Boolean expressions are used in conditions, loops, and logical operations such as AND, OR, and NOT.

A translator program that converts an entire source program written in a high-level language into machine code before execution, producing an executable file and reporting errors together.

A translator that converts and executes a program line by line, stopping at the first error it meets. It is useful for learning and debugging but generally runs slower than compiled code.

The process of finding, locating, and correcting errors, called bugs, in a program. It uses techniques such as reading error messages, tracing values, and running the code step by step.

A mistake in the grammar or spelling rules of a programming language, such as a missing bracket or misspelled keyword. It prevents the program from compiling or running at all.

The branch of computer science that builds systems able to perform tasks that normally need human intelligence, such as recognising images, understanding language, and making decisions from data.

A subfield of artificial intelligence in which programs learn patterns from data and improve with experience instead of following only hand-written rules. Common types are supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning.

The labelled or unlabelled examples used to teach a machine learning model. The quality, size, and fairness of training data strongly affect how accurate and unbiased the final model becomes.

The output produced when a machine learning algorithm learns from training data. A trained model takes new input and makes predictions, classifications, or decisions based on learned patterns.

A computing structure inspired by the brain, made of layers of connected nodes that adjust numerical weights during training. Deep networks with many layers power modern image and speech recognition.

The area of artificial intelligence concerned with enabling computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language, used in chatbots, translation, and voice assistants.

A software program that holds a conversation with a user through text or voice, often powered by natural language processing and large language models. It answers questions and performs simple tasks.

A systematic unfairness in a model's outputs, usually caused by unbalanced or unrepresentative training data or flawed design choices. It can lead to wrong or discriminatory decisions.

The principles guiding responsible use of computers and artificial intelligence, covering privacy, fairness, transparency, safety, and accountability. Ethical practice protects users and society from harm.

The protection of personal information from unauthorised access, misuse, or sharing. It requires informed consent, secure storage, and following laws when collecting and processing user data.

The practice of protecting computers, networks, and data from attacks, theft, and damage. It includes strong passwords, antivirus software, firewalls, updates, and safe browsing habits.

Malicious software designed to harm or exploit a computer system, including viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, and ransomware. Antivirus tools and cautious behaviour help prevent infection.

A fraudulent attempt to trick people into revealing passwords, bank details, or personal information, usually through fake emails, messages, or websites. Users should verify senders before clicking links.

Any hardware device connected to a computer to add functionality, such as a printer, scanner, webcam, or external drive. Peripherals may be input, output, or storage devices.

The startup process in which a computer loads the operating system into memory and prepares itself for use. It begins with firmware instructions stored in ROM and may be cold or warm.