| 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. |
| Printer | The hardware that provides printed output from the computer. |
| 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. |
| Motherboard | The main circuit board in a computer - everything else connects to this. |
| GHz | A measure of processor speed. One billion pulses per second. |
| MHz | A measurement of processor/bus speed - one million pulses per second. |
| Bit | The smallest increment of data on a computer - can be either 1 or 0. |
| Byte | A group of 8 bits - can be used to store one ASCII character. |
| ASCII | American Standard Code for Information Interchange |
| Network Card | Allows the computer to connect to a network using a cable. |
| Wireless Card | Allows computer to connect to a network via a radio based connection. |
