COMPUTER SCIENCE KEY TERMS

accumulator (ACC)

the part of the ALU that stores the intermediate results when doing a calculation

active attack (networks)

a network attack where the hacker attempts to change data or introduce malware

algorithm

a step-by-step set of rules or instructions to carry out a task

alphanumeric

the collective name for letters, digits and symbols

analogue signal

a continuous signal that can't be processed by a computer

anti-malware software

software designed to stop malware from damaging a computer or network

application

a piece of software written to help users do various tasks, often through a graphical user interface with menus and toolbars

architecture

describes how the CPU works and interacts with the other parts of the computer system

argument

a value that a parameter of a sub program actually takes

arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

the part of the CPU that carries out arithmetic and Boolean operations

arithmetic operator

an operator that programs use to carry out simple mathematical operations

array

a data structure where all data is stored and defined under one variable name

ASCII

a 7-bit character set consisting of 128 characters

assembly language

a low level language

assignment operator (=)

assigns the value on the right hand side to the name on the left hand side

authentication

a process for checking the identity of the user

auto-documentation

a programming tool commonly used to make a summary of a program

backdoor

a vulnerability in a computer or network's security that a hacker could exploit

bandwidth

the amount of data that can be transmitted over a network in a given amount of time

binary

a counting system using base-2 consisting of 0s and 1s

binary shift

moving the bits in a binary number left or right and filling the gaps with 0s

BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

software stored in ROM responsible for booting up a computer system

bitmap image

a graphic that is made up of pixels

bit

a binary digit, either 0 or 1

bit depth

the number of bits available to store an audio sample

bluetooth

a common type of wireless technology

boolean

a data type in computing which only has two possible values, true or false

boundary data

test data on the boundary of what a program will accept

breakpoint

a programming tool used to halt a program at a specific point

brute force attack

a network attack which uses software to crack security passwords through trial and error

buffer

memory that's used for temporary storage

bus topology

a network topology in which all devices are connected to a single backbone cable

byte

8 bits

cache (CPU)

quick access memory inside the CPU

casting

a way of changing from one data type to another

CAT 5e/6 cable

standards for copper Ethernet cables used on LANs

censorship

the control (usually by a government or organisation) of what information other people can access

character

a single alphanumeric symbol

character set

a group of characters that a computer recognises from their binary representation

client

a device which requests data from a server

client-server network

a type of network managed by a server, which takes requests from client devices

clock speed

the number of instructions a processor can carry out each second

cloud computing (the cloud)

the use of the internet to store files, access software, and provide increased computing power

code editor

part of an IDE where you write and edit your source code

colour depth

the number of bits used for each pixel in an image file

command-line interface

a text-based user interface where the user types in commands

comment

a note added to source code to say what a part of a program does

comparison operator

compares two values and outputs either true or false

compiled code

an executable file created by a compiler

compiler

a programming tool to translate source code into machine code

compression

the process of making the size of a file smaller

concatenation

joining strings together

condition-controlled loop

an iteration statement that repeats a set of instructions until a condition is met

constant

a named value which cannot be altered as the program is running

control unit (CU)

the part of the CPU that controls the flow of data

copyright

a legal right that prevents others from copying or modifying your work without permission

core (CPU)

a processing unit found inside the CPU

count-controlled loop

an iteration statement that repeats a set of instructions a given number of times

CPU/processor

the part of the computer system that processes the data. it contains the control unit, ALU and cache

cultural issue

an issue which affects a particular religious, ethnic, national or other group

cyberbullying

using social media to deliberately harm someone else

database

a collection of data records (made up of fields) often represented as tables

data tyoe

tells you what type of data it is, e.g. integer, real, string, etc.

debugging

identifying and fixing errors in a program

decomposition

breaking a problem down into smaller problems

dedicated system

a computer system designed to carry out a specific task

defensive design

a method of designing a program so that it functions properly and doesn't crash

defragmentation

reorganising data on a hard drive to put broken up files back together and collect up the free space

denary

a number system using base-10. also known as decimal

denial-of-service attack

a network attack which stops users from accessing a part of a network or website.

device driver

a piece of software that allows applications to communicate with a piece of hardware

digital divide

the inequality created by the fact that some people have greater access to technology that others

digital signal

the representation of an analogue signal using binary data

disk management

organisation and maintenance of the hard disk

domain name server (DNS)

a server which stores websites domain names and their IP adresses

dongle

a small piece of hardware which allow devices to connect to a network wirelessly

DO UNTIL loop

type of iteration statement

embedded system

a computer built into another device, e.g. a smart TV

encryption

encoding (encrypting) data so that it can only be decoded (decrypted) with the correct key

environmental issue

an issue relating to how we impact the natural world

erroneous data

test data with an incorrect data type that a program should reject

error diagnostics

information about an error once it is detected

ethernet

a network protocol used on LANs

ethical issue

something which raises questions of right and wrong

E-waste

discarded computer material

extreme data

test data on the boundary of what the program will accept

fetch-execute cycle

the process that the CPU uses to retrieve and execute instructions

fibre optic cable

a high performance cable that uses light to carry data

field

an element of a record used to store one piece of data. a column of a database table

file handling (programming)

reading from and writing to external files

file management

the organisation, movement and deletion of files

file sharing

copying files between devices on a network

final testing

testing the whole program at the end of the development process

firmware

permanent software stored on ROM, used to control hardware or embedded systems

flash memory

solid state non-volatile data storage

flowchart

a graphical way of showing an algorithm

FOR loop

a type of count-controlled iteration statement

FTP (file transfer protocol)

a protocol used to access, edit and move files on another device, like a server

function

a sub program that takes parameters and returns a value

gigabyte

1000 megabytes