| A | B |
|---|
| The intangible set of instructions that tell the computer what to do, known as programs. | Software |
| The tangible physical equipment that can be seen. | Hardware |
| The “boss” and coordinates all of the CPU’s activities. | Control Unit |
| Arithmetic/logic unit which performs arithmetic computations and logical operations. | ALU |
| An electronic device that receives data, processes data, stores data, and produces a result (output). | Computer |
| Memory on the motherboard that is long term; where the specific instructions that are needed for the computer to operate is stored. | ROM |
| Memory on the motherboard that is short term; where data, information, and program instructions are stored temporarily on a chip or a set of chips. | RAM |
| A circuit board that contains many integral components. | Motherboard |
| Central Processing Unit – the brains of the computer; the microprocessor. | CPU |
| Eight bits or combinations of ones and zeros represent a character. | Byte |
| An opening on the motherboard where a circuit board or expansion board can be inserted. | Expansion Slot |
| Found on the motherboard, short term and long term. | Memory |
| Used to connect our peripheral devices to the computer. | Ports |
| American Standard Code for Information Interchange – the most popular and widely used standardized coding system. | ASCII |
| A computer designed to be used on a desktop. | Desktop PC |
| The most powerful computer. | Supercomputer |
| Designed to be small enough and light enough to be used on your lap. | Laptop |
| The metal and plastic case that houses the main system components of the computer. | PC Case |
| Computers used by business and government to process large amounts of information. | Mainframes/minicomputers |
| The technology that enables computers to communicate. | Data Communications |
| When computers are connected to other computers. | Network |
| Computers connected together in a relatively close location such as in the same building or department. | LAN - Local Area Network |
| When local area networks are expanded to include several local area networks within a city, state, region, territory, country, continent, or the world. | WAN - Wide Area Network |
| The new facts entered into the computer to be processed which consists of text, numbers, sounds, and images. | Data |
