Computer Fundamentals, Operating Systems, MS Access, and MS Excel

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering foundational computer hardware principles, operating system functions, MS Access database tools, and MS Excel spreadsheet operations.

Capacity and performance

The basic principles used for processor classification.

Megahertz

The unit of measurement used to quantify processor speed.

External memory

The memory category under which a magnetic hard disk is classified.

Output devices

Hardware peripherals, such as plotters, printers, and speakers, that deliver processed information to the user.

Pascal's Calculator

The device considered to be the first mechanical calculator.

Second generation of computers

The era of computing characterized by the replacement of vacuum tubes with transistors.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The primary component that performs the central calculations and executes instructions in a computer.

Harvard Architecture

A computer architecture that employs separate physical buses for data and instructions, providing increased data access speed compared to the Von Neumann architecture.

ASCII

The character encoding standard used for representing text in computers.

Clock Frequency

The metric that measures the number of operations performed per second, where an increase reduces the execution time of tasks.

Binary number system

The base-$2$ numerical system utilized in computers because it is easiest to implement in digital electronics.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Volatile memory responsible for temporarily holding active data while the system is running; when depleted, the OS relies on secondary storage as temporary memory.

Microprocessors

Integrated processing circuits introduced in the fourth generation of computers that significantly reduced machine size and manufacturing cost.

Amdahl's Law

A computational principle defining the maximum theoretical speedup of a program when adding processors, which is strictly limited by the sequential fraction of the task.

Operating system

A comprehensive suite of software tools that oversees hardware management, executes applications, and manages access to system resources such as RAM.

Clipboard

An operating system utility facilitating temporary data storage for data exchange between applications.

Recycle bin

A system storage location for holding deleted files, allowing them to be restored directly back to their original file locations.

Application software

End-user software designed for specific non-system tasks, such as word processing using Microsoft Word.

System software

Low-level programs, including operating systems and device drivers, that interface directly with hardware components and coordinate computer operations.

Multitasking

An operating system function that manages concurrent process execution, enabling multiple programs to run simultaneously.

Command-Line Interface (CLI)

A user interface mechanism operated entirely through typed, text-based commands.

ver

The Windows Command Prompt command used to output the current version of the operating system.

mkdir

The Windows Command Prompt command used to create a new folder or directory.

Network operating systems

Specialized operating systems designed to coordinate operations across multiple linked computers and facilitate shared resource access over a network.

MS Access

A relational database management system (DBMS) designed for creating, querying, maintaining, and organizing databases.

*.accdb

The standard file extension designated for MS Access database files.

Table (MS Access)

The primary structural database object that organizes and stores raw information in rows of records and columns of fields.

Reports (MS Access)

Database objects specifically structured for compiling, summarizing, and presenting data for print output or formal viewing.

Form (MS Access)

An interface object utilized in MS Access to streamline data entry, modification, and direct record viewing.

OLE Object

An MS Access data type capable of storing complex binary objects, including images and external documents.

Primary Key

A designated unique identifier attribute in a database table that prevents record duplication and facilitates relational links.

Lookup Wizard

An MS Access configuration tool used to build a dropdown menu of selectable values, constraining data entry in a given field.

SELECT

The SQL command keyword in MS Access used to query and retrieve specified records matching set criteria.

MS Excel

A spreadsheet application designed for tabular numeric calculation, data modeling, and automatic cell data processing.

*.xlsx

The standard file extension applied to modern MS Excel spreadsheet workbooks.

$$

The prefix symbol utilized in MS Excel formulas to designate an absolute, non-shifting row or column cell coordinate.

Formula bar

The graphical input display located above the grid in MS Excel that shows the active cell's contents and underlying equations.

Range (MS Excel)

A defined block of adjacent cells designated by bounding coordinates separated by a colon, such as $A1:C1$.

F2

The functional keyboard key used in MS Excel to enter editing mode for the currently active cell.

Legend (MS Excel)

A chart component that identifies the labels, colors, and identifiers assigned to data series visualized in a diagram.

Percentage format

A formatting option in MS Excel that converts an entered number by multiplying it by $100$ and displaying it with an appended percent sign.

abs

A mathematical function in MS Excel used to calculate the absolute value of a specified number.