Vocab List for 2025

Word / Term / Acronym 

Definition

Sensor

Measures analog signals in nature for microcontrollers.

Actuator

Converts microcontroller’s digital signals into motion.

Expansion Card

Integrated circuit board that can be inserted into a computer to add functionality 

Fetch

To read an instruction from RAM and copy it into the CPU

Microprocessor

Small computational device embedded onto 1 chip.

RAM

Random Access Memory.

Register

Small storage location on  a processor

Memory 

Short term storage of data

Peripheral

Any (non-computational) device connected to a computer. e.g., printer, speaker

Automated system

An integration of sensors, controls and actuators designed to perform a function with minimal or no human intervention.

SSD

Solid State Drive.

DAC

Converts digital signals into analog signals.

ADC

Converts analog signals to digital signals.

Input

Any data going into a computer system

Output

Any data coming out from a computer system.