UPMSP High School IT & ITeS flashcards

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

Information

Processed, organised data that has meaning and supports a decision. Raw marks become information when averaged into a percentage; data alone is unprocessed fact.

ALU

Arithmetic Logic Unit inside the CPU. It performs addition, subtraction, comparison and logical operations (AND, OR, NOT), while the control unit directs the flow.

Volatile memory

Memory that loses its contents when power is removed. RAM is volatile and holds the running programs and data; ROM and secondary storage are non-volatile.

Hexadecimal conversion

Base-16 numbering using 0-9 and A-F. Each hex digit maps to exactly four binary bits, so 1111 1010₂ is FA₁₆, which equals 250 in decimal.

Absolute cell reference

A spreadsheet reference written with dollar signs, such as $B$4, that does not change when the formula is copied to another cell. Relative references shift instead.

Mail merge

A word-processing feature that combines one main document with a data source of records to produce personalised copies, such as individual letters or certificates.

COUNT versus COUNTA

COUNT counts cells containing numbers only; COUNTA counts all non-blank cells including text. A column of names returns zero with COUNT but a real total with COUNTA.

CSV file

Comma-separated values: plain text storing tabular data row by row. It opens in any spreadsheet but stores no formulas, formatting, charts or multiple sheets.

HTTPS

HTTP carried over TLS encryption, using port 443 by default. It protects data in transit and authenticates the site via certificate; plain HTTP on port 80 is unencrypted.

DNS

Domain Name System: the internet's directory that translates human-readable names such as example.org into numeric IP addresses that computers use to route traffic.

Bcc field

Blind carbon copy. Recipients listed in Bcc receive the mail but their addresses are hidden from others, protecting privacy when sending to a large group.

Browser cache

Locally stored copies of web page files such as images and scripts. It speeds up repeat visits but can show outdated content until cleared or refreshed.

BPO

Business Process Outsourcing: contracting a business process such as payroll, data entry or customer support to an external provider, usually to cut cost or access specialist skill.

Service Level Agreement

A contract clause set defining measurable service targets such as turnaround time, accuracy percentage, uptime and response time, with remedies if targets are missed.

KPO

Knowledge Process Outsourcing: higher-value outsourcing of judgement-intensive work such as research, analytics, legal review and financial modelling, requiring specialist qualifications.

Shrinkage

In a BPO the share of paid time not available for handling work, covering breaks, leave, training and absence. It raises the staff needed to meet demand.

Double-entry verification

A data-entry control where the same source data is keyed twice, usually by two operators, and the outputs compared; any mismatch is checked against the original.

3-2-1 backup rule

Keep at least three copies of data, on two different media types, with one copy stored off-site or offline. Restores must be tested, not assumed.

SOP

Standard Operating Procedure: a written, step-by-step instruction for performing a routine task consistently, used for training and for audit of process compliance.

Router versus switch

A switch forwards frames within one network using MAC addresses at Layer 2; a router forwards packets between different networks using IP addresses at Layer 3.

Private IP address

An address from 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12 or 192.168.0.0/16, used inside local networks and not routable on the public internet without translation.

TCP versus UDP

TCP is connection-oriented, acknowledges and retransmits lost packets, so it is reliable but slower. UDP is connectionless and faster, used for streaming and DNS queries.

Default gateway

The IP address of the router a host sends packets to when the destination lies outside its own subnet. Missing or wrong gateway means local-only connectivity.

POST

Power-On Self-Test: firmware check of CPU, RAM, keyboard and video at startup. A single beep usually means success; repeated beeps with no display point to hardware.

Electrostatic discharge

Sudden transfer of static charge that can destroy chips. Prevent it with an antistatic wrist strap, touching the bare chassis first and holding boards by the edges.

Thermal throttling

A CPU's self-protection that lowers clock speed when temperature exceeds limits. Symptoms are sudden slowness under load, fan noise and a hot chassis.

Ransomware

Malicious software that encrypts a victim's files and demands payment for the key. Recovery depends on offline backups; paying is discouraged and does not guarantee restoration.

Phishing

A fraudulent message that impersonates a trusted party to extract credentials or money, often using urgency, lookalike domains and links whose real target differs from the text.

Two-factor authentication

Login protection requiring two different evidence types, such as a password plus a one-time code or hardware key, so a stolen password alone is insufficient.

Break-even quantity

The number of units that must be sold before profit begins: fixed costs divided by the difference between selling price and variable cost per unit.

STAR method

An interview answer structure: describe the Situation, the Task you faced, the Action you took and the Result achieved, preferably with a measurable outcome.

Project report index

A numbered contents page listing each section and annexure with page numbers, letting the examiner locate the methodology, screenshots and results quickly during assessment.