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Glossary
C
cache
—A section of very fast memory in which frequently used
information is duplicated for quick access. Accessing data
from cache is faster than accessing it from the computer’s
main memory. See also
CPU cache, L1 cache, L2 cache
.
CD
—An individual compact disc. See also
CD-ROM
.
CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory)
—A form
of high-capacity storage that uses laser optics instead of
magnetic means for reading data. See also
CD
. Compare
DVD-ROM
.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
—The chip that functions as
the “brain” of the computer. It takes information from outside
sources, such as memory or keyboard input, processes the
information, and sends the results to another device that
uses the information.
character
—Any letter, number, or symbol you can use on the
computer. Some characters are non-printing characters,
such as a paragraph break in a word-processing program. A
character occupies one byte of computer storage.
chip
—A small piece of silicon containing computer logic and
circuits for processing, memory, input/output, and/or control
functions. Chips are mounted on printed circuit boards.
click
—To press and release the pointing device’s primary button
without moving the pointing device. In the Windows
operating system, this refers to the pointing device’s left
button, unless otherwise stated. See also
double-click
.
compatibility
—The extent to which computers, programs, or
devices can work together harmoniously, using the same
commands, formats, or language as another.
configuration
—(1) The collection of components that make up
a single computer system. (2) How parts of the system are
set up (that is, configured).
controller
—A device that controls the transfer of data from a
computer to a peripheral device and vice versa. For
example, disk drives, monitors, keyboards, and printers all
require controllers.
CPU
—See
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
.
