Terminology

DEFINITIONS Application – a computer software that is designed for a specific type of activity, such as word processing, desktop publishing, or manipulating graphics.

Bookmarks- Markers that take you to the Web Sites you often use. This means you don’t have to remember long Internet address for your favorite sites- just click on a bookmark.

Boot Up (turn on)- Turning on your computer.

Browser- A computer software that finds and displays web pages and other documents stored on the Internet. Examples of browser software are Safari and Firefox.

CPU- Central Processing Unit, the brains of the computer

Cursor- the arrow on a monitor that indicates where you are working. Can also be used to select options.

Desktop- The main screen to access everything on the computer.

Document – An electronic file that contains text, pictures, or any other kind of data that can be inputted into a computer.

Dock - The Dock appears at the bottom of the monitor. You use it to open applications, documents, folders, servers, websites, QuickTime TV channels, and more.

Downloading- Copying files, such as web pages or software, from the Internet to your computer’s hard disk.

e-mail – Electronic mail that you receive through your computer, either through an application or through the Internet.

File – A document in digital form that is stored either on the computer’s hard disk or on an external disk. It can contain words, numbers and/or pictures.

Flash Drive- a small portable storage device.

Folder – A storage place for computer files. Folders can store anything from applications to your personal work. Folders can be created and thrown away at any time.

Hard Disk- a computer’s main storage disk, which holds the operating system and application files.

Hardware- Equipment such as monitor, keyboard, scanner, mouse, and printer. Headphones- A computer output device that allows you to listen to sounds from the computer.

Home Page – An introductory page on a web site that contains links to other pages.

Icon – A small picture that you can click on with the mouse to make the computer do a task.

Insertion Point - A flashing line that appears on the screen when words are being written to show where they will begin.

Internet – A worldwide computer network, through which computers can communicate with each other.

Intranet- private networks that use the same technical standards and technologies as the Internet.

Keyboard- The computer input device that allows you to type letters and numbers on the computer.

Laptop – a portable computer that is powered by a rechargeable battery.

LAN (local area network) A computer network that spans a relatively small area.

Menu – A list of options from which a user can select something, usually at the top of the screen

Modem- ** mod ** ulator-**dem**odulator. A modem is a device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone or cable lines.

Monitor – A screen used to display the computer’s visual output.

Mouse – a computer input device that translates its movements in the movement of the cursor on the screen.

Multimedia- a combination of text, graphics, sound, animation, and video

Netiquette- A code of good conduct and a manners, developed by Internet users, that suggests acceptable and unacceptable ways of behaving on the Internet.

Network – a group of computers that are connected for common use, such as printers.

Password – before a network will allow your computer to log on, it requires you to enter a public username and a private password. You should never tell anyone your password. Printer- a computer output device that allows you to print onto paper what is on the monitor.

Software- same as applications.

URL (uniform resource locator) the global address of documents and other resources on the World Wide Web.

Username – every computer user has a unique name to log in to a network

Web page – a computer document written in HTML, which is linked to other web pages.

Web site – a collection of web pages