| 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. |