| A | B |
| Hardware | The physical components of the computer system. |
| Software | The programs or instructions that tell the computer what to do. |
| CPU | The brain of the computer or central processing unit. |
| ROM | The permanent memory that is built in your computer. This is read only. |
| RAM | The computer's working memory, sometimes called random-accessed memory. |
| Megabyte | Approximately a million bytes. |
| Gigabyte | Approximately a billion bytes (or 1,000 megabytes). |
| Input Device | The hardware that is used to pass information into the computer. |
| Output Device | The hardware that receives and dislplays information coming from the computer. |
| Modem | The device that allows your computer to talk to other computers over a telephone line. |
| Monitor | A video or computer display device. |
| Laser Printer | A printer that uses both laser and photographic technology to produce high quality output. |
| Printer | The hardware that provides printed output from the computer. |
| Hard Copy | A printed copy of computer output. |
| Compact Disc | A disc on which a laser has digitally recorded information such as audio, video, or computer data. |
| Hard Disk | A fixed, large-capacity magnetic storage medium for computer data. |
| Floppy Disk | A portable magnetic storage medium for computer data that allows users to randomly access information. |
| Graphical User Interface | The use of graphical symbols instead of text commands to control common computer functions such as copying programs and disks. |
| Icon | A small picture or symbol respresenting a computer hardware function or component. |
| Ink-jet Printer | A type of printer that forms letters on the page by shooting tiny electrically charged droplets of ink. |