Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers, Programs, and Java - Vocabulary Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from Chapter 1 notes, covering computer architecture, hardware, software, programming languages, operating systems, and Java fundamentals.

Programming

The process of creating (or developing) software, which contains instructions that tell a computer or computerized device what to do.

Computer

An electronic device that stores and processes data, comprising both physical hardware and invisible software.

Hardware

The visible, physical elements of a computer system.

Software

The invisible instructions that control computer hardware and make it perform specific tasks; also called a program.

Bus

A subsystem of interconnecting roads running among a computer's components through which data and power travel.

Motherboard

A circuit case in personal computers that connects all parts of a computer together and houses the bus.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The computer's brain that retrieves instructions from memory and executes them, typically containing a control unit and an arithmetic/logic unit.

Control Unit

A CPU component that controls and coordinates the actions of all other computer components.

Arithmetic/Logic Unit

A CPU component that performs numeric operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and logical operations (comparisons).

Transistor

A tiny electric switch built on silicon semiconductor chips used for processing information in CPUs and memory.

Hertz (Hz)

The unit of measurement for CPU clock speed, where $1\,\text{Hz}$ equals $1\,\text{pulse per second}$.

Core

The part of the processor that performs the reading and executing of instructions.

Multicore CPU

A single processor component containing two or more independent cores to increase processing power.

Bit

Short for binary digit; a digit in the binary number system representing a switch state of 0 (off) or 1 (on).

Byte

The minimum storage unit in a computer, composed of eight bits.

Encoding Scheme

A set of rules governing how a computer translates characters, numbers, and symbols into data it can work with (e.g., ASCII).

Random-Access Memory (RAM)

An ordered sequence of uniquely addressed bytes used as the computer's work area for executing programs and storing data.

Volatile Memory

A storage state where any information stored in memory is lost when the system's power is turned off.

Drive

A device for operating a storage medium that reads data from and writes data onto the medium.

Hard Disk

A permanent storage device used for storing data and programs permanently inside or external to a computer.

CD-R

A compact disc format used for read-only permanent storage where contents cannot be modified once recorded.

CD-RW

A compact disc format that can be written to and overwritten with new data, functioning like a hard disk.

DVD

Digital versatile disc or digital video disc; an optical disc storage device with a standard capacity of 4.7 GB.

USB Flash Drive

A small portable device for storing and transporting data that plugs into a computer's Universal Serial Bus port.

Modifier Key

A special keyboard key (such as Shift, Alt, or Ctrl) that modifies the normal action of another key when pressed simultaneously.

Cursor

A graphical pointer on the display screen moved by a mouse to select or trigger on-screen objects.

Screen Resolution

The specification of the number of horizontal and vertical pixels on a display device.

Pixels

Short for picture elements; tiny dots that form images on a monitor screen.

Dot Pitch

The distance between pixels measured in millimeters; smaller dot pitch results in a sharper display.

Dial-Up Modem

A communication device using a phone line to transfer data at speeds up to 56,000 bps (bits per second).

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

A high-speed connection over standard phone lines that transfers data up to 20 times faster than a dial-up modem.

Cable Modem

A communication device using cable TV lines maintained by a cable company, offering faster speeds than DSL.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

A device that connects a computer to a local area network (LAN).

Machine Language

A computer's native language consisting of a set of built-in primitive instructions represented in binary code.

Assembly Language

A low-level programming language that uses short descriptive words called mnemonics to represent machine-language instructions.

Mnemonic

A short descriptive word (such as add or sub) used in assembly language to represent a machine-language instruction.

Assembler

A program that translates assembly-language source programs into machine code.

High-Level Language

A platform-independent, English-like programming language that is easy to learn and write.

Statement

An individual instruction written in a high-level programming language.

Source Code

A program written in a high-level programming language before it is translated into machine code; also called a source program.

Interpreter

A translation tool that reads one statement from source code, translates it to machine code or virtual machine code, and executes it immediately.

Compiler

A translation tool that translates an entire high-level source code file into an executable machine-code file.

Operating System (OS)

The primary program running on a computer that manages activities, hardware resources, application programs, and security.

Multiprogramming

An OS technique allowing multiple programs to run simultaneously by sharing the CPU when it would otherwise be idle.

Multithreading

An OS technique allowing a single program to execute multiple subtasks concurrently at the same time.

Multiprocessing

Also known as parallel processing; the technique of using two or more processors together to perform subtasks concurrently.

Applet

A Java program embedded in an HTML file that can be run directly within a Web browser.

Java Language Specification

A technical definition specifying the syntax and semantics of the Java programming language.

Application Program Interface (API)

Also known as a library; a collection of predefined Java classes and interfaces for developing programs.

Java Standard Edition (Java SE)

The foundation Java edition used to develop client-side standalone applications or browser applets.

Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE)

The Java edition used to develop server-side applications, such as servlets, JSP, and JSF.

Java Micro Edition (Java ME)

The Java edition used to develop applications for mobile devices like cell phones.

Java Development Toolkit (JDK)

A software package containing programs invoked from a command line used for compiling, developing, and testing Java programs.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Software (such as NetBeans or Eclipse) integrating editing, compiling, building, debugging, and user interfaces into one tool.

Console

A computer term referring to the primary text entry (keyboard) and display output (monitor) interface.

Reserved Words

Keywords (such as class, public, static, void) that have special meaning to the compiler and cannot be used for other purposes; also called keywords.

Comment

Explanatory text written in source code for programmers that is completely ignored by the compiler.

Java Bytecode

Low-level, architecture-neutral code generated by the Java compiler (.class file) that can run on any platform containing a JVM.

Java Virtual Machine (JVM)

A software program that interprets and executes Java bytecode instructions line by line on a target machine.

Syntax Error

An error detected by the compiler resulting from violating the language's construction rules, missing punctuation, or typos.

Runtime Error

An error that causes a program to terminate abnormally while running due to impossible operations like division by zero.

Logic Error

An error that occurs when a program compiles and runs without crashing but produces incorrect results due to flawed implementation.