Grade 10-12 Information Technology Comprehensive Theory Glossary

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering Grade 10 to 12 Information Technology concepts, including Systems Technologies, Networks, Databases, Solution Development, and Social Implications.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The hardware component responsible for all processing (the machine cycle) taking place in a computer, executing instructions and controlling computer operations.

Motherboard

The main printed circuit board (PCB) that houses and connects the CPU, RAM, storage, expansion cards, and peripherals, facilitating data flow and distributing electrical power.

Modular Design

A computer design built from several different components or modules, allowing repair or upgrading of one part at a time instead of replacing the entire computer.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Fast, volatile primary memory that temporarily holds operating system files, active application code, and data currently being manipulated by the CPU.

ROM (Read-Only Memory)

Non-volatile memory that permanently retains its data even when powered off, storing the motherboard's basic startup firmware (BIOS).

CMOS

A battery-powered chip on the motherboard that stores critical hardware settings, system configuration, and the real-time clock when the computer is switched off.

Cache Memory

High-speed memory located directly on or close to the CPU that stores frequently used instructions and data to reduce processor latency.

System Buses

Shared electrical pathways etched on the motherboard that carry data and control signals between system components and connected peripherals.

Multi-Tasking

An operating system capability that rapidly switches CPU time (time-slicing) among multiple running applications to create the perception of simultaneous execution.

Multi-Threading

A programming technique where a single application process is subdivided into multiple independent execution paths (threads) sharing the same memory space.

Multi-Processing

The simultaneous execution of two or more distinct instructions or programs across two or more physical CPU cores or microprocessors.

Virtual Memory

A memory management mechanism where the operating system uses a portion of secondary storage as an overflow area when RAM becomes full.

Star Topology

A network layout where every individual device is connected directly to a central networking device, such as a switch or a hub.

Bandwidth

The maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection from one point to another in a specific amount of time.

Latency

The total time it takes for a data packet to travel from one node or point to another across a network.

Switch

A network hardware device that connects devices on the same local area network and directs data frames to the specific destination device.

Router

A hardware device that connects different networks together and directs data packets between them via the best available path.

WAP (Wireless Access Point)

A dedicated networking device connected to a wired switch or router that broadcasts Wi-Fi signals to allow wireless devices to join a wired network.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Technology and protocols that digitize analog voice signals into data packets to transmit telephone calls over IP networks and the Internet.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A security technology that creates an encrypted virtual tunnel over a public network, masking the user's IP address and securing transmitted traffic.

Shaping

An ISP bandwidth management technique that prioritizes time-sensitive traffic (such as VoIP and browsing) over bulk downloads to manage network congestion.

Throttling

The intentional restriction of a user's download and upload speeds by an ISP after reaching Fair Usage Policy (FUP) data thresholds.

Blockchain

A decentralized, distributed, cryptographically secured public ledger that records transactions across a peer-to-peer network in linked, immutable blocks.

Primary Key

A field or combination of fields that uniquely identifies each individual record in a database table without containing duplicate or null values.

Foreign Key

A field in a relational database table that corresponds to and references the primary key of another table, establishing a logical link between them.

Composite Key

A primary key composed of two or more combined fields used together to uniquely identify a record where no single field is unique.

Referential Integrity

A database rule ensuring that a foreign key value must always match a valid, existing primary key in the referenced parent table, preventing orphaned records.

DBMS (Database Management System)

Software (such as MS Access, MySQL, or Oracle) that provides tools to create, query, manage, secure, and administer databases.

Database Normalisation

A formal step-by-step design process that organizes database fields and tables to eliminate data redundancy and anomalies.

Data Warehouse

A central repository that stores large amounts of historical data aggregated from multiple sources for consolidated reporting and analysis.

Data Mining

The process of analyzing large datasets to discover hidden patterns, correlations, trends, and actionable knowledge.

Metadata

Data that describes and gives information about other data, such as file author, creation date, resolution, size, or directory location.

Audit Trail

A security record or log that keeps track of user actions, recording who accessed or altered data, what was changed, and when the event occurred.

1D Array (One-Dimensional Array)

A static, contiguous linear data structure storing a fixed number of elements of the same data type under a single identifier, accessed directly via an integer index.

Parallel Arrays

Two or more separate arrays of identical size where elements at matching index positions represent related attributes of the same entity.

Linear Search

A search algorithm that examines each element in a collection sequentially from first to last until a target is found or the end of the collection is reached.

Binary Search

An efficient divide-and-conquer search algorithm on sorted lists that repeatedly compares the target with the middle element, halving the search range each step.

Bubble Sort

A comparison-based sorting algorithm that repeatedly steps through a list, compares adjacent elements, and swaps them if they are in the wrong order.

Selection Sort

A sorting algorithm that repeatedly finds the smallest value in the unsorted portion of an array and swaps it to the front.

Encapsulation

The object-oriented programming principle of bundling data attributes and methods into a single class while restricting direct external access to internal fields.

Class

A blueprint or template used in object-oriented programming that defines the attributes (data) and methods (behavior) that objects instantiated from it will possess.

Object

An instance of a class containing its own specific data values and access to the methods defined within its class blueprint.

Constructor

A special method used in object-oriented programming to instantiate and initialize the attributes of an object.

Accessor Method (Getter)

A class method used to read or return the value of a private attribute without exposing the attribute to direct external modification.

Mutator Method (Setter)

A class method used to modify the value of a private attribute, commonly incorporating validation checks to protect data integrity.

IoT (Internet of Things)

A network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity that collect and exchange data across networks without human intervention.

POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act)

South African data privacy legislation establishing mandatory lawful conditions for collecting, processing, storing, and sharing personal information.

Digital Divide

The socioeconomic gap between individuals, communities, and regions that have access to modern ICT devices and Internet connectivity, and those who do not.

Phishing

A social engineering attack where fraudsters use fraudulent emails or websites disguised as legitimate organizations to trick victims into revealing sensitive credentials.

Pharming

A cyberattack technique that automatically redirects users to a fraudulent website even when the correct web address (URL) was entered.