Personal Computing Vocabulary

A computer program designed for a specific purpose, generally to help the user perform a task.

A

A copy of a file or record, stored separately from the original, that can be used to recover the original if it is destroyed or damaged.

B

The process of turning on a computer to power up a system.

B

Accessing applications and services over the Internet.

C

In text editing applications, an indication of where newly typed text will be inserted. Its position can be controlled by various keyboard commands.

C

The collective term that refers to files (such as documents, photos and spreadsheets) created or manipulated by applications on a computer.

D

The organizing of files and folders.

D

A computer of a size designed to be used on a desk or table, and to which input, display and storage devices can be connected.

D

A system for transferring messages from one computer to another, usually through a network or series of networks.

E

An aggregation of data on a storage device, identified by a name.

F

A virtual container in a computer's file system, in which files may be stored for the purposes of organization.

F

Some text or a graphic in an electronic document that can be activated to display another document or trigger an action.

H

A small picture that represents something, often an application.

I

A form of realtime communication where two or more people exchange text messages, usually short, using computers or other devices with communications capabilities.

I

A global network of computers that communicate using a specific protocol and that use Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to identify the best paths to route those communications.

I

A set of alphabetic, numeric and other keys used to operate a computer.

K

A portable computer that is small enough and light enough to be used on one's lap, but large enough to have an integrated keyboard.

L

A display device, reminiscent of a television set, used as to give a graphical display of the output from a computer.

M

An input device that is moved over a pad or other flat surface to produce a corresponding movement of a pointer on a graphical display.

M

A computer program (e.g., Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS) that manages the other programs and devices on a computer.

O

A symbol shown on a computer display whose movements mirror the movements of an input device (e.g., mouse, touchpad or stylus pen) and that can be used to select or move items on the display.

P

Unsolicited bulk electronic messages.

S

A flat surface which is sensitive to touch, used mostly in laptop computers to control an on-screen cursor.

T

An input/output device that allows the user to interact with the computer by touching the display screen.

T

The address of a web page, FTP site, audio stream or other Internet resource.

U

A type of malicious software which can covertly transmit itself between computers via networks (especially the Internet) or removable storage such as disks, often causing damage to systems and data.

V