AP A: Hardware and Software Basics

Flashcards from lecture notes on Hardware and Software Basics.

Hardware

The physical devices associated with a computer system.

Software

The set of instructions the hardware executes to carry out specific tasks.

Hardware

The physical devices associated with a computer system.

Software

The set of instructions the hardware executes to carry out specific tasks.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The actual hardware that interprets and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together.

Control Unit

Interprets software instructions and tells other hardware devices what to do based on the software instructions.

Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU)

Performs all arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction) and logic operations (sorting, comparing numbers).

Megahertz (MHz)

Millions of CPU cycles per second.

Gigahertz (GHz)

Billions of CPU cycles per second.

Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) Chip

A type of CPU that can recognize as many as 100 or more instructions, enough to carry out most computations directly.

Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) Chip

Limits the number of instructions the CPU can execute to increase processing speed.

Primary Storage

The computer’s main memory, directly accessible to the CPU, consisting of random access memory (RAM), cache memory, and read-only memory (ROM).

Random Access Memory (RAM)

The computer’s primary working memory, in which program instructions and data are stored for direct access by the CPU.

Cache Memory

A small unit of ultra-fast memory that stores recently or frequently accessed data for quicker CPU access.

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

The portion of a computer’s primary storage that does not lose its contents when the power is switched off; contains essential system programs.

Flash Memory

A special type of rewritable read-only memory (ROM) that is compact and portable.

Secondary Storage

Equipment designed to store large volumes of data for long-term storage; devices are nonvolatile.

Megabyte (MB)

Roughly 1 million bytes.

Gigabyte (GB)

Roughly 1 billion bytes.

Terabyte (TB)

Roughly 1 trillion bytes.

Magnetic Medium

A secondary storage medium that uses magnetic techniques to store and retrieve data on disks or tapes coated with magnetically sensitive materials.

Magnetic Tape

An older secondary storage medium that uses a strip of thin plastic coated with a magnetically sensitive recording medium.

Hard Drive

A secondary storage medium using rigid disks coated with a magnetically sensitive material, housed with recording heads in a sealed mechanism.

Solid State Drive

An all-electronic storage device that is an alternative to a hard disk and is faster because there is zero latency.

Optical Medium

A secondary storage medium that stores information at extremely high density in the form of tiny pits, read by a laser beam.

Input Device

Equipment used to capture information and commands (e.g., mouse, keyboard, scanner).

Output Device

Equipment used to see, hear, or otherwise accept the results of information processing requests (e.g., monitor, printer).

Communication Device

Equipment used to send information and receive it from one location to another.

Appliance

A computer dedicated to a single function.

Ebook

An electronic book that can be read on a computer or special reading device.

System Software

Controls how the various technology tools work together along with the application software; includes operating system software and utility software.

Operating System Software

Controls the application software and manages how the hardware devices work together.

Utility Software

Provides additional functionality to the operating system.

Application Software

Used for specific information processing needs to solve specific problems or perform specific tasks.

Software Updates (Software Patch)

Releases updates to software to fix problems or enhance features.

Software Upgrade

Releases a new version of the software, making significant changes to the program.

Single-User License

Restricts the use of the software to one user at a time.

Network User License

Enables anyone on the network to install and use the software.

Site License

Enables any qualified users within the organization to install the software, regardless of whether the computer is on a network.