Computing Key Glossaries

Storage Devices

Storage Devices

Store memories, such as Hard Drive.

RAM

Random Access Memory - short term memory

ROM

Read Only Memory - Permanent memory that can’t be changed.

CPU

Central Processing Unit - takes input and returns output after processing info given.

Output Devices

Devices which output info, e.g. Monitor

Input Devices

Devices that provides input, e.g. keyboard

Software

The programs and other operating information used by a computer. 

Hardware

Physical elements that make up a computer or electronic system.

Operating System Software (OS)

An operating system is initially loaded into the computer by a boot program and manages all of the other application programs in a computer.

Application Software (App)

Application software is a type of computer program that performs a specific personal, educational, and business function.

Modem

A modem, which stands for "modulator-demodulator," is a device connecting your home to your internet service provider (ISP) through a physical connection.

Sound Card

A device which can be slotted into a computer to allow the use of audio components for multimedia applications. 

Video Card

A printed circuit board controlling output to a display screen. 

Motherboard

A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in a computer.

ALU (Arithmetic Logical Unit)

Mathematical Calculation Unit.

Control Unit

Co – ordinate the activity of the CPU, decoding instructions from RAM and sends control signals to control data around the CPU.

Cache

Provides temporary storage that the CPU can access very quickly.

Clock

The CPU is constantly fetching and executing instructions and the speed it does this is determined by an electronic clock. Each tick of the clock represents one step in the FDE cycle.  

Registers

Registers are memory locatiosn within the CPU taht hold data temporarily and can be accessed very quickly.

The Von Neumann Architecture

The Von Neumann architecture consists of a single, shared memory for programs and data, a single bus for memory access, an arithmetic unit, and a program control unit.

Buses

• Address Bus - carries memory addresses for locations to be read from or written to

• Data bus - carries data between CPU and memory

• Control bus - carries control signals around the CPU and memory. 

Program Counter (PC)

Holds the location in the next instruction/data address in Main Memory.

Increment

• a. one of a series of regular consecutive additions.

• b. a minute increase in quantity.

• c. something gained or added.

Memorry Address Register (MAR)

The contents of the PC are copied here and are used as the location of the instruction in memory and then transferred along the Address Bus. 

Memory Data Register (MDR)

Once Data/Instructions are brought from the Memory Address in Main Memory – they are placed in the MDR.  

Current Instruction Register (CIR)

The instructions stored in the MDR are copied here. 

Accumulation (ACC)

Results of the calculations made by the ALU are placed into the accumulator. 

Syntax

Rules and Language of coding.

IPO Cycle

Input, Processing, Output.

GUI

Graphical User Interface - Users interact with electronic devices via visual indicator representations. 

Command Line Interface (CLI)

A command line interface (CLI) is a software mechanism you use to interact with your operating system using your keyboard which came out in the mid–1960s.  

Fetch - Execute Cycle

The Fetch – Execute Cycle is a process used by a computer's central processing unit (CPU) to run instructions. Each cycle retrieves an instruction from memory (fetch), translates it into a series of commands (decode), and then performs the required action (execute). 

Program Counter (PC)

Holds the location in the next instruction/data address in Main Memory. The PC keeps track of the memory location (address) for the next instruction.