CompTIA A+ Core IT Hardware, Networking, Mobile, and Printing Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcard deck covering core topics across hardware interfaces, display technologies, TCP/IP and OSI networking standards, cabling, cloud models, virtualization, mobile device standards, and printing mechanisms.

Device Manager

The primary Windows tool (devmgmt.msc) for managing hardware.

USB4

A version of USB that runs at 40 Gbps and uses cables up to 1 meter long with only USB-C connectors.

DVI-D

A DVI video port that works only with digital monitors.

DVI-I

A DVI video port that supports both analog and digital monitors.

RS-232

A 9-pin serial connector used with rack server consoles and older mice, keyboards, dial-up modems, and other peripherals.

Twisted Nematic (TN)

A class of LCD monitor that has fast response times to keep fast-moving images crisper, consumes more power, and has limited viewing angles.

In-Plane Switching (IPS)

A class of LCD monitor that offers truer color images and better viewing angles, although it is expensive and has slower response times.

OLED (organic light-emitting diode)

A type of monitor technology that uses a thin LED layer or film between two grids of electrodes and does not use backlighting.

MAC address

A 48-bit (6-byte) hardware address unique to each NIC or onboard network controller, assigned by the manufacturer at the factory.

OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model

A conceptual model dividing networking functions among seven layers: Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

A connection-oriented protocol at the OSI Transport layer that establishes a session and guarantees packet delivery.

UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

A connectionless TCP/IP protocol at the OSI Transport layer that does not guarantee delivery or require a connection.

Automatic Private IP Address (APIPA)

In TCP/IP version 4, an IP address in the address range 169.254.x.y used when a computer cannot lease an address from a DHCP server.

NAT (Network Address Translation)

A technique that substitutes the public IP address of the router for the private IP address of a computer on a private network.

Single-mode fiber (SMF)

A type of fiber-optic cable with a very small core that carries a single light path for longer distances with lower signal loss.

Multimode fiber (MMF)

A type of fiber-optic cable using a larger core to carry multiple light paths at once, typically used for shorter distances.

Plenum

The air-handling space in a building located above a drop ceiling used for circulating HVAC air.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

A technology allowing network cables to deliver electrical power along with data to remote devices such as access points and IP cameras.

Unified Threat Management (UTM)

A security appliance combining multiple protective functions such as firewall, anti-malware, intrusion detection/prevention, and content filtering into a single device.

Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

Security software or hardware that monitors network or host activity for malicious behavior and generates alerts without blocking traffic.

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Security software that monitors network or host activity for malicious behavior and can automatically block, drop, or reject suspicious traffic in real time.

Hypervisor

Software that creates and manages virtual machines by allocating hardware resources to each guest operating system.

Type 1 hypervisor

A bare-metal hypervisor that runs directly on hardware without a host operating system.

Type 2 hypervisor

A hosted hypervisor that runs as an application on a host operating system.

Container

A lightweight virtualization method that packages an application and its dependencies into an isolated environment while sharing the host operating system.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

A cloud computing service providing hardware resources such as servers, storage, and networking without an installed operating system from the provider.

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

A cloud service model providing a managed platform, including hardware, operating environment, and development tools, to build and deploy applications.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

A cloud computing service delivering software applications to subscribers through a web interface.

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)

A unique number that identifies a mobile phone or tablet device worldwide.

IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity)

A unique number that identifies a cellular subscription for a device or subscriber along with its home country and mobile network.

Near-field communication (NFC)

A wireless technology establishing a communication link between devices within 4 inches (10 cm) of each other.

RFID (radio-frequency identification)

A wireless technology using small tags containing a microchip and antenna to track and identify items.

Mobile Device Management (MDM)

Software tools used for tracking mobile devices and managing data security according to corporate policies.

ActiveSync

A technology used by Microsoft Exchange servers to sync email, calendars, and contacts with mobile devices.

ADF (automatic document feeder) scanner

A scanner component that automatically pulls individual paper items from a stack into a roller system for processing.

Imaging drum

An electrically charged rotating drum found in laser printers.

Duplexing assembly

An assembly of several rollers in a printer that enables printing on both sides of the paper.

Direct thermal printer

A type of thermal printer that burns dots onto special coated paper.

Thermal transfer printer

A thermal printer that uses a heating element to melt a wax-based ink ribbon onto thermal paper.

Printer Control Language (PCL)

A page description language developed by Hewlett-Packard used by many printer manufacturers and operating systems.

PostScript (PS)

A page description printer language developed by Adobe Systems.

Toner vacuum

A specialized vacuum cleaner designed to pick up laser printer toner without touching conductive surfaces.