Untitled Flashcards Set

Fetch-execute Cycle

A process in which instructions are fetched from memory, decoded, and executed by the CPU, repeating until the program is complete.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The chip that controls the operation of all computer parts and executes program instructions.

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

The component of the CPU responsible for arithmetic and logical operations.

Processor Cache

High speed memory built into the CPU that stores instructions for quick access to enhance CPU speed.

Register

Temporary memory within the CPU used to store data and avoid delays in accessing main memory.

Von Neumann Architecture

The design of most computers that includes the fetch-execute cycle and interactions between the CPU and memory.

MAR (Memory Address Register)

A register that holds the address of the instruction being read from or written to main memory.

MDR (Memory Data Register)

A register that contains the instruction copied from main memory.

Program Counter

A register. It contains the address of the next instruction to be fetched from memory. It is updated each time a new instruction is fetched to contain the address of the next needed instruction.

Accumulator

A register that stores the result of the last operation.

Clock Speed

The rate at which the CPU processes instruction cycles, measured in MHz or GHz.

Cache Size

The amount of cache memory in the CPU; larger sizes improve performance by reducing main memory transfers.

Cores

Individual processing units within a CPU that can execute instructions independently.

Embedded System

Specialized hardware and software built into a device for a specific purpose, like in appliances.

Primary Storage

Also known as memory, it holds data, programs, and instructions currently in use.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Volatile memory that stores data and programs before processing by the CPU.

ROM (Read Only Memory)

Non-volatile memory that contains data that cannot be changed and is not lost when powered off.

Volatile Memory

Memory that loses its data when the power is turned off.

Non-Volatile Memory

Memory that retains its data even when the power is turned off.

Virtual Memory

Space on the hard drive used as main memory; slower than physical RAM.

Optical Storage

A type of secondary storage that uses lasers to read and write data on discs.

Magnetic Storage

Secondary storage using magnetic fields for data storage, with read/write heads.

Solid State Storage

A type of secondary storage that uses flash memory, with no moving parts and faster performance.

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

A magnetic storage device that can store large amounts of data, often used in personal computers.

SSD (Solid State Drive)

A type of solid-state storage faster than HDDs, lacking moving parts.

Bit

The smallest unit of storage, representing a binary 1 or 0.

Byte

8 bits of data.

Kilobyte (KB)

Approximately 1000 bytes.

Megabyte (MB)

Approximately 1000 KB.

Gigabyte (GB)

Approximately 1000 MB.

Terabyte (TB)

Approximately 1000 GB.

Denary

The decimal number system, using digits 0-9.

Overflow Error

Occurs when not enough space is allocated to store a calculation result.

Hexadecimal

A base-16 number system using digits 0-9 and letters A-F.

Binary Shift

A mathematical operation on binary numbers involving shifting digits left or right.

Character Set

A system that assigns binary numbers to represent characters.

ASCII

A 7-bit character set used for representing text.

Unicode

A larger character set that includes a wide array of language characters and symbols.

Pixel

The smallest unit of a digital image.

Metadata

Data providing additional information about a file.

Colour Depth

The number of bits used to represent color in an image.

Resolution

The number of pixels in an image.

Sample Rate

The number of samples taken per second in sound recording.

Bit Depth

The number of bits used for each sample in sound.

Analogue

Continuously varying signals, as opposed to digital signals.

Compression

The process of reducing file size, such as in images or videos.

Lossy Compression

Compression that reduces file size by removing some data, cannot be fully restored.

Lossless Compression

Compression that reduces file size without losing data, can be fully restored.

Network

Two or more interconnected computers for sharing data or resources.

LAN (Local Area Network)

A network covering a small geographic area.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

A network covering a large geographic area.

Client-Server Network

A setup where a central server provides resources to client devices.

Peer to Peer Network

A network where all computers have equal status, acting as both clients and servers.

Router

A device connecting different networks for communication.

Switch

A device providing wired connections to a network.

Transmission Media

The physical medium that carries data across networks.

DNS (Domain Name System)

A system linking human-readable URLs to IP addresses.

The Cloud

Storage and resources accessed remotely via the internet.

Firewall

A network device that controls traffic to enhance security.

MaC Address

A unique identifier assigned to network interface cards.

Encryption

The process of converting data to ensure it can't be easily read without decryption.

Malware

Software intended to damage or disrupt a computer system.

Phishing

A method for tricking individuals into revealing private information.

Social Engineering

Manipulating individuals to gain unauthorized access to systems.

Denial of Service Attack

Flooding a system with data to make it unusable.

Penetration Testing

Authorized attempts to hack a system to uncover vulnerabilities.

Operating System (OS)

Software that controls computer hardware and provides an interface for users.

User Management

Functions of an OS that handle user accounts and access rights.

File Management

The OS function that manages the storage of files and folders.

Data Compression Software

Utility software that reduces data size for storage efficiency.

Defragmentation Software

Reorganizes files on a hard disk to improve efficiency.

Algorithm

A sequence of logical instructions to perform a task.

Pseudocode

A method of writing algorithms in a half-code, half-natural language format.

Flowchart

A visual representation of the sequence of steps in an algorithm.

Dynamic Testing

Executing a program to ensure it operates correctly.

Debugging

The process of identifying and fixing defects in software.

Syntax Error

An error breaking the language's syntax, preventing code execution.

Logic Error

An error that produces incorrect output despite running code.

Iterative Testing

Testing conducted during software development to validate each component.

Boolean Logic

Logic operations based on true (1) and false (0) values.

AND gate

Outputs true only if both inputs are true.

OR gate

Outputs true if at least one input is true.

NOT gate

Inverts the input value.

Truth Table

A table showing input-output relationships for logic gates.

Software License

An agreement granting rights to use software.

Open Source Software

Software with publicly available source code.

Proprietary Software

Software with restricted source code ownership.

Compiler

Translates high-level programming code into machine code at once.

Interpreter

Translates high-level programming code into machine code line by line.