Tamil Nadu HSE First Year Computer Applications flashcards

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

Vacuum tube generation

First-generation computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, were large and generated much heat, and were programmed in machine language.

Two's complement

A signed binary representation formed by inverting all bits of a number and adding one. It lets subtraction be performed as addition and gives a single representation of zero.

Volatile memory

Memory that loses its stored contents when power is switched off. RAM is volatile, which is why work must be saved to secondary storage before shutdown.

Hexadecimal conversion

Each hexadecimal digit corresponds to exactly four binary bits. To convert, replace every hex digit with its 4-bit group, or group binary bits in fours from the radix point.

Compiler versus interpreter

A compiler translates the entire source program into machine code before execution and reports all errors together. An interpreter translates and executes one statement at a time.

Bootstrap loader

A small program stored in ROM that runs when the computer is switched on. It locates the operating system in secondary storage and loads it into RAM.

Virtual memory

A technique in which part of secondary storage is used as an extension of RAM, allowing programs larger than physical memory to run through paging or swapping.

Utility software

System software that maintains and protects the computer, such as antivirus scanners, disk defragmenters, backup tools and file compression programs.

Mail merge

A word-processing feature that combines a main document containing fixed text with a data source of records to produce many personalised letters or labels.

Word wrap

The automatic movement of text to the next line when the right margin is reached. It inserts no paragraph mark, unlike pressing the Enter key.

Justified alignment

A paragraph alignment in which extra space is distributed between words so that both the left and right margins are flush, producing straight edges on both sides.

Header and footer

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

Absolute cell reference

A reference such as $A$1 in which both column and row are fixed with dollar signs, so the reference does not change when the formula is copied elsewhere.

IF function

A spreadsheet function that tests a condition and returns one value when the condition is true and another value when it is false.

COUNT versus COUNTA

COUNT returns the number of cells containing numeric values in a range, while COUNTA counts all non-empty cells, including text and logical values.

Pie chart

A circular chart that divides a whole into sectors proportional to each category's share. It suits parts-of-a-whole comparison for a single data series.

Slide transition

The visual effect applied to the change from one slide to the next during a slide show, with settings for speed, sound and manual or automatic advance.

Slide Master

A template slide that stores the fonts, colours, background and placeholder positions used by all slides based on it. Editing it updates every dependent slide.

Vector graphic

An image stored as mathematical descriptions of lines, curves and shapes rather than pixels, so it can be enlarged without losing quality.

Bitmap image

An image stored as a grid of individual pixels, each with its own colour value. Enlarging it beyond its resolution produces visible pixelation.

LAN

A local area network connects computers within a limited area such as a room, building or campus, using high-speed media and usually a single administrative owner.

DNS

The Domain Name System translates human-readable domain names such as example.com into the numeric IP addresses that computers use to route data.

Router versus switch

A switch forwards frames within one network using MAC addresses. A router forwards packets between different networks using IP addresses and chooses the best path.

Star topology

A network layout in which every device connects by its own cable to a central hub or switch. Failure of one cable affects only that device.

Flowchart decision symbol

A diamond-shaped symbol in a flowchart that represents a condition with two exits, typically labelled Yes and No, directing the flow accordingly.

Algorithm

A finite, ordered and unambiguous set of steps that solves a problem, taking input, producing output and terminating after a limited number of operations.

Dry run

Manually executing an algorithm or program step by step using sample data, often with a trace table, to verify logic before or without running it on a computer.

Modulus operator

An arithmetic operator, usually written %, that returns the remainder of an integer division. For example, 17 % 5 gives 2.

do-while loop

An iteration structure that executes its body first and tests the condition afterwards, so the body always runs at least once even if the condition is false.

Nested loop

A loop placed inside another loop. The inner loop completes all its iterations for each single iteration of the outer loop.

Anchor tag

The HTML element written as a with an href attribute that creates a hyperlink to another page, a file or a location within the same page.

Primary key

A field or combination of fields that uniquely identifies each record in a table. It cannot contain duplicate values or nulls.