0478 chp 4 software keywords

Utilities

Part of an operating system designed for specific tasks

Anti-virus software

Software that quarantines and deletes virus-infected files/programs

Defragmentation

Rearranging data blocks on HDD to make them contiguous

Back-up

Making copies of files on another storage device for safety

Screensavers

Display images on a monitor when a computer is inactive

Device driver

Communicates with the OS, translating data for devices

Operating system

Software providing an environment for applications and user-computer interface

CLI

Allows communication by typing commands

GUI

Uses icons to represent applications

Hardware management

Controls input/output devices and subsystems

Buffers

Memory area for temporary data storage

Multitasking

Process multiple tasks simultaneously

Interrupt

Signal requesting microprocessor attention, suspending operations

High-level language

Independent of computer hardware, makes use of words

Low-level language

Dependent on computer hardware

Compilers

Translate entire programs from HLL to machine code

Interpreter

Translates and executes HLL statements line-by-line

Assembler

Translates assembly language to machine code

IDE

Programs for writing and testing programs in HLL