UPMSP High School Computer key terms

An electronic machine that accepts data as input, processes it according to stored instructions, and produces information as output, usually storing results for later use.

Any hardware component used to enter data or commands into a computer, such as a keyboard, mouse, scanner, or microphone, which converts human actions into signals the machine can read.

Hardware that presents processed results from a computer to the user, for example a monitor showing text, a printer producing a page, or a speaker playing sound.

The central processing unit is the chip that fetches instructions, decodes them, and carries out arithmetic and logical operations, coordinating the other parts of the computer.

Random access memory is fast temporary storage that holds programs and data currently in use; its contents vanish when power is switched off, so it is called volatile memory.

Read-only memory holds permanent instructions written during manufacture, such as the start-up routine, and normally cannot be changed by the user; its contents survive power loss.

Non-volatile media such as hard disks, pen drives, SSDs, and optical discs that keep files permanently when the computer is switched off, unlike memory that holds only active work.

The set of programs and instructions that tell hardware what to do; it is divided into system software, which runs the machine, and application software, which performs user tasks.

The smallest unit of digital data, a single binary digit that is either 0 or 1; groups of bits represent numbers, characters, images, and every other kind of information.

A group of eight bits treated as one unit; it commonly stores one character of text, and larger capacities are counted in kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes.

A base-2 system that uses only the digits 0 and 1, where each position stands for a power of two; computers use it because circuits have two reliable states, on and off.

The everyday base-10 system using digits 0 to 9, where each position represents a power of ten; converting between it and binary is a common examination skill.

A base-16 system using digits 0 to 9 and letters A to F, often used as shorthand for binary because one hexadecimal digit represents exactly four bits.

American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a character-coding scheme that assigns a number to letters, digits, and symbols so text can be stored and exchanged between systems.

A universal character-encoding standard that gives a unique code point to characters of most of the world's writing systems, supporting languages far beyond the limited set in ASCII.

System software that manages hardware, memory, files, and running programs, and provides the interface through which a user gives commands to the computer.

A graphical user interface presents windows, icons, menus, and a pointer so users operate the computer by clicking and dragging instead of typing text commands.

A named collection of related data stored on secondary storage, such as a document, image, or program, which the operating system creates, opens, copies, and deletes.

A container inside a file system that groups files and other folders, letting users organise storage into a hierarchy of directories instead of one long list.

The short suffix after the dot in a file name, such as .docx or .jpg, which indicates the file's format and hints at the program that can open it.

Application software for creating and editing text documents, offering formatting, spell check, tables, and printing, with word wrap handling line breaks automatically as you type.

A grid of rows and columns of cells used for calculation and analysis, where formulas recalculate automatically when the values they refer to are changed.

The address of a spreadsheet cell formed by its column letter and row number, such as B5; a dollar sign in the reference makes the column or row absolute when copied.

An expression entered in a spreadsheet cell that begins with an equals sign and calculates a result from values, cell references, and operators such as plus, minus, or a built-in function.

A program used to build a sequence of slides containing text, images, charts, and sound, shown to an audience as a slide show for teaching or reporting.

The visual effect applied to how one slide leaves the screen and the next appears during a slide show, distinct from animation, which moves objects within a single slide.

The combined use of text, images, audio, video, and animation in one digital product, which makes content more engaging but usually demands more storage and processing power.

A worldwide network of interconnected computers that exchange data using common protocols, allowing services such as the web, email, and video calling to operate across countries.

The collection of linked web pages and resources accessed over the internet through browsers using HTTP or HTTPS; it is one service on the internet, not the network itself.

A uniform resource locator is the address of a resource on the web, giving the protocol, the domain name, and often the path to a specific page or file.

Client software such as Chrome or Firefox that requests web pages from servers, interprets HTML and related code, and displays the rendered result to the user.

A web service that indexes pages and returns a ranked list of links matching the keywords a user types, helping locate information without knowing exact addresses.

A numeric label assigned to each device on a network so data can be routed to it; IPv4 addresses are written as four numbers separated by dots.

A finite, ordered set of clear steps for solving a problem or completing a task, which can be written in plain language or a flowchart before being coded.

A diagram that shows the steps of an algorithm using standard symbols: an oval for start and stop, a parallelogram for input and output, a rectangle for processing, and a diamond for decisions.

A structured, English-like description of an algorithm that borrows programming keywords such as IF, WHILE, and READ but ignores the strict syntax of any particular language.

A named storage location in a program whose value can change while the program runs; each variable has a name, a data type, and a current value.

A programming construct that repeats a block of statements while a condition holds or for a fixed number of times, avoiding the need to write the same instructions repeatedly.

The practices that protect people and data online, including strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links, keeping software updated, and not sharing private details publicly.

A trick in which a message or fake website pretends to be a trusted organisation to make a person reveal passwords, card numbers, or other sensitive information.

Malicious software such as viruses, worms, and ransomware, designed to damage a system, steal data, or take control of a device without the owner's consent.

The trail of data a person leaves online through posts, searches, comments, and sign-ups, which can persist and be seen by others long after it was created.

The principles of right behaviour when using computers and networks, covering respect for privacy, avoidance of plagiarism, refusal to hack, and responsible use of shared resources.