Grade 12 Information Technology Paper 2 Study Guide Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering basic terminology, hardware, software, networking, database management, programming concepts, and integrated technology scenarios for Grade 12 IT.

SSD (Solid-State Drive)

A storage device that uses flash memory with no moving parts, characterized as fast, durable, and low power.

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

A storage device that uses spinning magnetic disks to store data.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

The full web address of a specific page on the internet.

Firmware

Software permanently stored on a ROM chip that controls hardware at a basic level, such as the BIOS on a motherboard.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

Firmware that runs first when the computer starts to check hardware and load the Operating System.

Register

A tiny, super-fast memory slot inside the CPU used to hold data being processed at that moment.

Cache

Small, ultra-fast memory inside or very close to the CPU that stores frequently used data for instant access.

Microblog

A web service where users post very short messages, typically between $100$ and $200$ characters, such as Twitter/X.

Quarantine

The process where antivirus software isolates an infected file into a locked area to prevent it from spreading.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Technology that overlays digital images or information onto the real world through a screen, such as Snapchat filters.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Technology that creates a completely digital environment that replaces the real world.

Botnet

A network of many infected computers secretly controlled by one criminal to perform attacks.

Zombie

A single infected device secretly controlled remotely by a cybercriminal without the owner knowing.

Primary Key (PK)

A field that uniquely identifies each record in a table; it cannot contain duplicates and cannot be empty.

Foreign Key (FK)

A field in one table that links to the Primary Key of another table to create a relationship.

POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3)

An email protocol that downloads emails from the server to a device and then removes them from the server.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

An email protocol that keeps emails on the server, making them accessible from any device.

DRM (Digital Rights Management)

The use of encryption to prevent illegal copying or sharing of digital content.

IP Address

A unique number that identifies every device on a network.

Validation

Checks whether data entered by a user meets set rules before saving to the database.

Verification

Checks that data has been entered correctly, usually by having the user enter it twice.

Web 1.0

The first generation of the web consisting of static, read-only pages with no user interaction.

Web 2.0

The interactive web where users can create and share content, such as Facebook or YouTube.

Semantic Web (Web 3.0)

Web technology that understands the meaning behind content so machines can interpret and link data intelligently.

Blockchain

A chain of digital records stored across many computers that is nearly impossible to alter secretly.

Interpreter

A translator that runs code one line at a time while the program is running.

Compiler

A translator that converts all code into machine language before the program runs.

Ordinal Data Type

A data type where values have a defined order or sequence, such as characters.

Cloud Computing

Storing and accessing data and software over the internet instead of on a local device.

Customised Search

A search engine feature that uses browsing history, location, and behavior to personalize results.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The 'brain' of the computer that processes all instructions and calculations.

Clock Speed

The number of instruction cycles the CPU can perform per second, measured in $GHz$.

Cores

Independent processing units inside the CPU chip that allow for handling separate tasks.

Multiprocessing

Using multiple CPU cores simultaneously to run tasks in parallel.

Overclocking

Forcing the CPU to run faster than its official rated speed, which increases heat and risks stability.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

A dedicated processor with thousands of small cores designed specifically for graphics, images, and video rendering.

Operating System (OS)

System software that manages hardware and software, acting as the middleman between the user and the computer hardware.

Device Driver

A small software program that allows the Operating System to communicate with and control specific hardware.

Plug-and-Play (PnP)

The capability of an OS to automatically detect and configure a new peripheral when it is connected.

Virtualisation

Running multiple virtual, simulated machines on one physical computer.

Virtual Memory

A feature where the OS uses part of the hard drive or SSD as extra RAM when the physical RAM is full.

Scalability

The ability to easily increase or decrease computing resources like storage and processing power as needs change.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

A cloud model where users access software via a browser without local installation.

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

A cloud model used by developers to build applications on a cloud platform.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

A cloud model where virtual servers and storage are rented from a provider.

Full Backup

A backup type that copies all files every time, providing an easy restore but using significant storage.

Incremental Backup

A backup type that only copies files changed since the last backup, saving space but making restoration slower.

Differential Backup

A backup type that copies files changed since the last full backup.

Biometric Authentication

Using unique physical characteristics like fingerprints or iris scans to verify identity.

Resolution

The number of pixels on a screen; higher amounts lead to sharper, more detailed images.

Refresh Rate

How many times per second the screen updates, measured in Hertz ($Hz$).

LAN (Local Area Network)

A network covering a small area like a building or campus, usually privately owned and fast.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

A network covering a large geographic area such as a city or country, often using public networks.

Switch

A device that connects multiple devices in a LAN and directs data using MAC addresses.

Router

A device that connects different networks and finds the best path for data transmission.

Modem

A device that converts digital computer signals into signals for transmission over telephone or fibre lines.

NIC (Network Interface Card)

Hardware that allows a computer to connect to a network.

Firewall

Safety software or hardware that monitors and filters traffic to block malicious data.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A protocol used to transfer files between computers over a network.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

A technology that encrypts data between a browser and a server to prevent interception.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Technology that sends voice calls over the internet instead of traditional phone lines.

Bandwidth

The amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection per second.

Shaping

A traffic management technique that prioritizes certain types of data, like video calls, over others.

Throttling

Limiting or slowing down certain traffic types to reduce network congestion.

Bottleneck Effect

Occurs when one slow device or connection limits the speed of the entire network.

Ransomware

Malware that encrypts files and demands payment to unlock them.

Phishing

A social engineering attack using fake messages to trick users into providing details.

Pharming

An attack that redirects a user from a real website to a fake one by manipulating DNS settings.

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)

An attack where a botnet floods a server with traffic until it crashes.

SQL Injection

A cyberattack where malicious SQL code is entered into form fields to manipulate database data.

IoT (Internet of Things)

The concept of connecting everyday physical devices to the internet to collect and share data.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

Technology using radio waves to automatically read data from tags without manual scanning or line-of-sight.

P2P Network (Peer-to-Peer)

A network where all computers are equal and share files directly without a central server.

Database

An organized collection of related data stored and accessed electronically.

Normalisation

The process of organizing a database to reduce data redundancy and improve integrity by splitting data into separate tables.

Data Redundancy

The condition where the same data is stored in more than one place, leading to wasted space and inconsistencies.

Metadata

Data about data, which describes the contents or structure of a file or database.

Class

A blueprint or template in OOP that defines attributes and methods for objects.

Object

A specific instance created from a class containing actual values.

Encapsulation

The OOP concept of hiding data inside a class and only allowing access through methods.

Constructor

A special method that runs automatically when an object is created to set initial values.

Accessor (Getter)

A method that reads a private attribute and returns its value.

Mutator (Setter)

A method that changes the value of a private attribute.

Bubble Sort

A sorting algorithm that repeatedly compares and swaps neighboring elements if they are in the wrong order.

Trace Table

A tool used to track variable values at each step to simulate code execution manually.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Computer systems that perform tasks requiring human intelligence, such as pattern recognition and learning.

Lossy Compression

A compression method that permanently removes data to reduce file size, resulting in a slight quality loss.

Lossless Compression

Compression where no data is removed, allowing the original file to be fully restored with perfect quality.

Intellectual Property

Original creative work that belongs to the creator and is protected by law.

POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act)

South African law protecting personal information and requiring organizations to handle it with consent.

Telecommuting

Working from home or a remote location using ICT tools instead of traveling to an office.

Data Analytics

The process of examining large sets of data to discover patterns and support decision-making.

E-Waste

Discarded electronic devices no longer in use, which can contain toxic chemicals like lead and mercury.