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Glossary
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.3
Internet — The decentralized, world-wide network of computers that
provides electronic mail, the World Wide Web, and other services.
See also World Wide Web.
K
keyboard shortcut — A key or combination of keys that you use to
perform a task instead of using a pointing device such as a mouse.
L
L1 (level one) cache — Memory cache built into the processor to help
improve processing speed. See also cache, CPU cache, L2 cache.
L2 (level two) cache — Memory cache installed on the motherboard to
help improve processing speed. It is slower than L1 cache and faster
than main memory. See also cache, CPU cache, L1 cache.
LAN (local area network) — A group of computers or other devices
dispersed over a relatively limited area and connected by a
communications link that enables any device to interact with any
other on the network.
liquid crystal display (LCD) — A type of display that uses a liquid
substance between two transparent electrode panels. When an
electric current passes through the electrodes, the molecules in the
liquid form a crystalline pattern that polarizes the light passing
through it. A filter over the electrodes permits only non-polarized
light to pass to the surface of the display, creating light and dark
pixels.
load — To move information from a storage device (such as a hard disk)
into memory for processing.
local area network — See LAN.
logical drive — A section of a disk that is recognized by the operating
system as a separate disk drive. A system’s logical drives may differ
from its physical drives. For example, a single hard disk drive may
be partitioned into two or more logical drives.
M
memory — Typically refers to the computer’s main memory, where
programs are run and data is temporarily stored and processed.
Memory can be volatile and hold data temporarily, such as RAM, or
it can be nonvolatile and hold data permanently, such as ROM. A
computer’s main memory is RAM. See RAM, ROM.
microprocessor — See central processing unit (CPU).
