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| computer | a machine that changes information from one form into another by performing input, processing, output, and storage |
| bit | a number that is a building block for computer languages; short for binary digit |
| byte | a group of bits combined into groups of eight or more |
| input | raw information, or data, that is entered into a computer |
| processing | a task a computer carries out with data |
| output | the result of a computer's processing, displayed on-screen, printed on paper, or heard through a speaker |
| storage | devices, such as hard drives and CD-ROMS, that permanently hold data and program instructions for a computer to use |
| hardware | physical parts of a computer |
| central processing unit (CPU) | a piece of the computer's hardware that processes and compares data and completes arithmetic and logical operations |
| random access memory (RAM) | special chips that store data and instructions while the computer is working |
| peripheral | separate input, output, and storage hardware |
| CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive | an optical storage device |
| hard drive | a storage device, which stores bits of data as aligned particles on the surface of a a magnetic disk |
| software | programs that tell a computer what to do and how to do it |
| hardware | the physical parts of a computer |
| operating system | a system that allows hardware devices to communicate with one another, run efficiently, and support software programs |
| compatibility | the ability to share files between two different application programs or operating systems |
