OGE Informatics key terms

Data that has been processed, organized, or interpreted so that it is meaningful and useful for decision-making, problem-solving, or understanding.

Raw, unprocessed facts, numbers, or symbols that represent observations or measurements and have no meaning until they are interpreted.

A method of representing information using only two symbols, typically 0 and 1, which correspond to off and on states in digital circuits.

The smallest unit of digital information, representing a single binary digit that can be either 0 or 1.

A unit of digital information consisting of 8 bits, commonly used to encode a single character or a small amount of data.

The process of converting information into a specific format or code, such as binary, ASCII, or Unicode, so it can be stored, transmitted, and processed by computers.

A set of rules that assigns a unique numeric code to each character (letters, digits, symbols) so that text can be represented and manipulated in digital form.

A universal character encoding standard that assigns a unique code point to every character in most of the world's writing systems, enabling consistent text representation across platforms.

A character encoding standard that uses 7 bits to represent 128 characters, including English letters, digits, punctuation, and control codes.

A systematic way of representing numbers using a set of digits and rules, characterized by its base (radix), such as base 2 (binary), base 10 (decimal), or base 16 (hexadecimal).

A base-10 number system that uses ten digits (0 through 9) and place values that are powers of 10.

A base-2 number system that uses only two digits (0 and 1) and place values that are powers of 2, fundamental to digital computing.

A base-16 number system that uses sixteen symbols (0-9 and A-F) and is often used as a compact way to represent binary data.

A finite, ordered set of unambiguous steps or rules that, when followed, solves a specific problem or performs a computation.

A graphical representation of an algorithm using standardized symbols (such as rectangles for processes, diamonds for decisions, and arrows for flow) to show the sequence of steps.

A simplified, informal language that uses structured English-like statements to describe an algorithm, making it easier to understand and translate into a programming language.

A sequence of instructions written in a programming language that a computer can execute to perform a specific task or set of tasks.

A formal language with its own syntax and semantics used to write instructions that a computer can interpret or compile and execute.

A software tool that translates an entire program written in a high-level language into machine code or another target language before execution.

A software tool that executes a program by translating and running its instructions one line at a time, without producing a separate machine-code file.

A named storage location in a program that holds a value which can be changed during execution, and whose type determines what kind of data it can store.

A classification that specifies which kind of value a variable can hold (such as integer, real, string, or Boolean) and what operations can be performed on it.

A programming construct that repeats a block of instructions multiple times, either a fixed number of times or until a condition is met.

A programming construct that executes different blocks of code depending on whether a specified condition is true or false.

The conceptual design and fundamental operational structure of a computer system, including its components, their relationships, and how they work together.

The primary component of a computer that executes instructions by performing arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations.

Volatile primary memory that temporarily stores data and program instructions currently in use, allowing fast read and write access by the CPU.

A method and data structure that an operating system uses to organize, store, retrieve, and manage files and directories on a storage device.

System software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for application programs, such as memory management, file management, and user interface.

Programs designed to perform specific tasks for users, such as word processing, spreadsheets, web browsers, and games, as opposed to system software.

A collection of interconnected computers and devices that can communicate and share resources, such as data, printers, and internet access.

A global network of interconnected computer networks that use standardized protocols (such as TCP/IP) to communicate and share information worldwide.

A unique numerical label assigned to each device on a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication, identifying its location.

A set of rules and conventions that govern how data is transmitted and received over a network, ensuring reliable communication between devices.

A hierarchical naming system that translates human-readable domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to locate each other on the internet.

A reference or address that specifies the location of a resource on the internet, including the protocol, domain name, and path to the resource.

An information system on the internet that allows documents to be linked and accessed via hyperlinks, typically using web browsers.

A software application used to access and display web pages and other content on the World Wide Web, interpreting HTML and other web technologies.

The practice of protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

Malicious software designed to harm, exploit, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems, including viruses, worms, trojans, and ransomware.

A program designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software from a computer system, helping to protect against malware infections.

A secret string of characters used to authenticate a user's identity and grant access to a system or account, ideally strong and unique.

The process of converting plaintext into ciphertext using an algorithm and a key, so that only authorized parties can read the original information.

An application that organizes data in rows and columns of cells, allowing calculations, formulas, charts, and data analysis.

An expression in a spreadsheet cell that performs a calculation using values, cell references, and operators, starting with an equals sign.

The address of a cell in a spreadsheet, such as A1 or B2, used in formulas to refer to the data in that cell.

An organized collection of structured data stored electronically, allowing efficient retrieval, insertion, updating, and deletion of records.

A complete set of related data fields about a single entity in a database table, such as all information about one student.

A single attribute or column in a database table that stores one piece of information about each record, such as a name or age.

A request for information from a database, often written in a query language like SQL, that specifies which data to retrieve based on conditions.