| A | B |
|---|
| access time | The performance of a hard drive or other storage device - how long it takes to locate a file. |
| active program or window | The application or window at the front (foreground) on the monitor. |
| alert | a message that appears on screen, usually to tell you something went wrong |
| alias | an icon that points to a file, folder or application (System 7) |
| apple menu | on the left side of the screen header. System 6 = desk accessories System 7 = up to 50 items |
| application | a program in which you do your work |
| application menu | on the right side of the screen header. Lists running applications |
| ASCII | American Standard Code for Information Interchange. a commonly used data format for exchanging information between computers or programs. |
| background | part of the multitasking capability. A program can run and perform tasks in the background while another program is being used in the foreground |
| bit | the smallest piece of information used by the computer. Derived from "binary digit". In computer language, either a one (1) or a zero (0) |
| backup | a copy of a file or disk you make for archiving purposes. |
| boot | to start up a computer. |
| bug | a programming error that causes a program to behave in an unexpected way. |
| bus | an electronic pathway through which data is transmitted between components in a computer. |
| byte | a piece of computer information made up of eight bits. |
| card | a printed circuit board that adds some feature to a computer. |
| cartridge drive | a storage device, like a hard drive, in which the medium is a cartridge that can be removed. |
| CD-ROM | an acronym for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory. |
| Chooser | A desk accessory used to select a printer, or other external device, or to log onto a network. |
| Clipboard | A portion of memory where the Mac temporarily stores information. Called a Copy Buffer in many PC applications because it is used to hold information which is to be moved, as in word processing where text is "cut" and then "pasted". |
| Clock Rate | The instruction processing speed of a computer measured in millions of cycles per second |
| command | the act of giving an instruction to your Mac either by menu choice or keystroke |
| command (apple) key | a modifier key, the Command key used in conjunction with another keystroke to active some function on the Mac |
| compiler | a program the converts programming code into a form that can be used by a computer |
| compression | a technique that reduces the size of a saved file by elimination or encoding redundancies |
| control key | seldom used modifier key on the Mac |
| control panel | a program that allows you to change settings in a program or change the way a Mac looks and/or behaves |
| CPU | the Central Processing Unit. The processing chip that is the "brains" of a computer |
| crash | a system malfunction in which the computer stops working and has to be restarted |
| cursor | The pointer, usually arrow or cross shaped, which is controlled by the mouse |
