Computer Hardware and Operating Systems Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental computer science concepts including units of binary measurement, CPU functionality, physical hardware roles, digital state logic, and operating system mechanisms.

Bit

A single zero or one, acting like a switch being off or on.

Byte

A group of $8$ bits that can hold $1$ letter in a document.

Kilobyte (kB)

A unit of digital data short for kilobyte, which is equal to $1000$ bytes.

Megabyte

A data unit short for megabyte, equal to $1\text{ million bytes}$, commonly used to measure photos.

Gigabyte (GB)

A data unit short for gigabytes, equal to $1\text{ billion bytes}$, commonly used to measure movies and games.

CPU Functions

The essential operations performed by the central processing unit: running instructions from a program, math and logic, organizing input/output/memory, and synchronizing.

Multiple Cores

A processor setup containing multiple CPUs working together to handle tasks.

Hertz (Hz)

A measure of frequency used to quantify CPU speed, usually expressed in gigahertz (GHz).

2 GHz

A CPU speed specification meaning $2\text{ billion}$ clock cycles per second.

Areal Density

A storage density metric where bits span the width of $2$ strands of DNA, achieving $20\text{ terabits per square inch}$ ($600\text{ gigabits}$ in one hard drive).

Four Functions of a Computer

The basic capabilities of a computer system: 1. Input information (takes in information), 2. Store information (keeps it), 3. Process information (does things with information), 4. Output information (gives it back).

Input Hardware

Components responsible for taking in information, including touchscreens, keyboards, microphones, mice, and other computers.

Processing Hardware

Components responsible for processing information, consisting of the CPU ('processor') and GPU ('graphics card').

Output Hardware

Components responsible for presenting or giving back information, including screens, speakers, printers, and other computers.

RAM vs. Hard Drive

RAM provides small ($4\text{ GB}$), fast, short-term memory for currently open apps and files; a hard drive provides large ($250\text{ GB}$), slow, long-term storage for all apps and files.

Digital Electronics

Electronic systems that represent information using discrete binary states ($1$ or $0$) corresponding to switches being on or off, rather than continuous analog signals.

Circuit State Calculation

The mathematical relationship determining state capacity in digital electronics, where $3$ circuits yield $8$ states ($2^3 = 8$) and $8$ circuits yield $256$ states ($2^8 = 256$).

Operating System (OS)

A special program (such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS) that connects hardware and software, managing access to hardware components like memory, keyboard, mouse, and headset.

Hardware vs. Software

Hardware refers to physical components like chips, pieces, CPU, circuits, and wires; software refers to non-physical applications, sites, and apps.

Turn-Taking Supervision

An OS function where the operating system regulates access so each app gets its turn to use hardware (CPU, mouse, etc.) rather than letting apps access hardware directly.

Memory Protection

An OS security feature ensuring that each program can only access the RAM dedicated to its own process, preventing one application from accessing another program's memory.

Two Parts of an Operating System

The structural division of an OS into the Kernel (which handles key OS functions) and Tools + Libraries.