APCSP Unit 1 Vocab REVIEW

ENIAC

The first high-speed, purely electronic, digital machine that could be programmed and re-programmed to handle a wide array of tasks.

von Neumann Architecture

A design in which instructions are stored in memory rather than being permanently built into wires and switches.

vacuum tube

A glass component containing electrodes that was used in early machines as a switch or amplifier.

transistor

A semiconductor component used to amplify or switch electronic signals.

semiconductor

A substance that conducts electricity under some conditions but not others.

integrated circuit

A single, mass-produced component containing many electronic components and their connections.

microprocessor

A single integrated component containing the functions needed to perform the main processing tasks of a computer.

circuit board

A sheet of insulating material used to mount and connect electronic components.

Moore's law

A theory predicting that the number of inexpensive transistors in the same physical area would double about every two years.

quantum computing

Experimental machines that use quantum bits and principles such as entanglement and superposition to process information.

hardware

The physical parts of a computer system.

computer case

The external shell that holds and protects the internal components of a computer.

motherboard

The main board that connects and supports many of the components inside a computer.

CPU

The main component responsible for executing instructions and running software.

CU

The part that retrieves information from memory, decodes it, and directs the execution of instructions.

ALU

The part that performs mathematical and logical operations.

primary memory

Storage that holds currently running programs and active data and can be accessed directly by the processor.

RAM

Physical storage that temporarily holds programs and data while a computer is powered on.

ROM

Storage that retains programs or data even when power is turned off.

graphics processor

An integrated component specialized in creating images for a display.

video card

A plug-in module containing advanced graphics-processing hardware and dedicated video memory.

sound processor

An integrated component specialized in creating audio output for speakers.

sound card

A plug-in module containing advanced audio-processing hardware, input connections, and other features.

hard disk

A type of secondary storage that retains programs and data even when power is turned off.

removable storage media

Portable storage used to transfer data between computers.

peripheral

An external input or output device connected to a computer.

hardware platform

A combination of physical devices assembled to form an effective computer system.

Desktop

A full computer setup with separate display, keyboard, pointing device, and external devices.

Laptop

A small, portable computer with an attached foldable display, keyboard, and pointing device.

Tablet

A lightweight computer primarily operated through an integrated touch display.

Smartphone

A pocket-sized mobile device with a touch display and an operating system capable of running applications.

software

A collection of instructions and programs that make a computer perform useful tasks.

program

An application or set of instructions that runs on a computer to complete a task or provide a service.

statement

A piece of code that performs a specific action.

Microsoft Windows

An operating system introduced in 1985 that uses a graphical interface.

Mac

An operating system released in 1984 known for graphics capabilities, ease of use, and reliability.

graphical user interface

A visual method that allows a person to communicate with a computer using symbols and other on-screen elements.

Linux

A free and open-source operating system released in the early 1990s and used on many types of computers.

open-source software

Programs whose source code is publicly available for people to download, modify, and use, sometimes with licensing restrictions.

IDE

A single application that provides tools for designing, writing, running, and testing code.

computing system

A group of devices that work together to solve a problem or provide a service.

network

A group of two or more computers connected to share data.

network adapter

A device that sends and receives data through a connection between computers or other devices.

Ethernet cards

Standard adapters commonly used to provide wired network connections on desktop computers.

wireless network

A connection system that uses over-the-air signals instead of physical cables.

bandwidth

The amount of data that can move through a connection during a given period of time.

coaxial

An early networking cable made of a solid copper wire surrounded by insulation.

twisted pair

A type of cable containing wires twisted together in pairs to reduce electromagnetic interference.

baseband

A cable system that sends digital signals using the entire available capacity of the cable.

broadband

A cable system that can carry more than one stream of information at a time using analog signaling.

hub

A simple device that connects computers and sends received information to every connected device.

switch

A device that connects computers and can direct information to a specific recipient.

router

A device that passes information between different networks.

gateway

A connection point where two or more networks meet.

modem

A device that interprets the type of signal provided by an internet service company.

Wireless Access Point

A device that connects wireless devices and directs their communication within a local connection.

Internet of Things

The large collection of nontraditional devices, such as sensors and appliances, connected to the Internet.

Internet

A massive worldwide system of interconnected computers and devices.

server

A computer that specializes in storing information or processing requests from other machines.

client

A computer or application that requests information or services from another machine.

Internet Service Provider

A company that gives customers access to online networks and services.

IP address

A numerical network identifier that allows a device to communicate with other devices.

Routing

The process of selecting the best path for data packages to travel through connected networks.

IPv4

A numerical addressing system using four numbers from 0 to 255 to identify a device on a network.

IPv6

A newer addressing system using hexadecimal values that supports far more unique addresses.

protocol

A set of rules or methods used for communication and data transfer online.

Open System Interconnection

A seven-layer framework that organizes standards for communication between networked systems.

TCP/IP

A group of communication rules responsible for sending and receiving data packages across networks.

packet

A small unit of data packaged for travel across a network.

data stream

A sequence of related data packages sent through a network.

reliability

The ability of a system to keep functioning as well as possible when one component fails.

User Datagram Protocol

A fast communication method that manages how data packages are sent and received.

World Wide Web

A large collection of linked and formatted information organized into sites and pages viewed through a browser.

HTTP

A communication method used to transfer web page information.

File Transfer Protocol

A communication method used to transfer files.

Post Office Protocol

A communication method used to download or receive messages waiting for an account.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

A communication method used to send email from users to mail systems and between mail systems.

Internet Message Access Protocol

A newer communication method used to access and receive email messages.

Local Area Network

A smaller group of connected computers and devices within a limited area such as a home or office.

reliability

The ability of a system to keep functioning as well as possible when one component fails.

scalability

The ability of a system to grow or shrink to meet changing levels of demand.

fault tolerance

The ability of a network to continue communicating despite the failure of one or more components.

routing

The process of selecting the best path for data packages to travel through connected networks.

redundancy

The inclusion of extra components that can be used if other components fail.

Internet of Things

The large collection of nontraditional devices, such as sensors and appliances, connected to the Internet.

Secure Sockets Layer

A security method designed to protect communication between web clients and web servers over an insecure network.

Transport Layer Security

A newer security method used to protect communication between browsers, servers, and other network applications.

parallel computing

A style of processing in which multiple processors handle different tasks at the same time.

distributed computing

A style of processing that uses resources from multiple computers to handle parts of a larger task.

sequential computing

A processing model in which operations are completed one at a time in a specific order.

clustered computing

A tightly connected group of computers working together like one larger system with many processors.

speedup

A measurement of how much more efficiently a parallel solution performs an algorithm compared with another approach.