User’s Manual
Glossary-3
Glossary
application:
A group of programs that together are used for a specific task
such as accounting, financial planning, spread sheets, word
processing and games.
ASCII:
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII code is
a set of 256 binary codes that represent the most commonly used
letters, numbers, and symbols.
async:
Short for asynchronous.
asynchronous:
Lacking regular time relationship. As applied to computer
communications, asynchronous refers to the method of transmitting
data that does not require a steady stream of bits to be transmitted
at regular time intervals.
B
backup:
A duplicate copy of files kept as a spare in case the original is
destroyed.
batch file:
A file that can be executed from the system prompt containing a
sequence of operating system commands or executable files.
binary:
The base two number system composed of zeros and ones (off or
on), used by most digital computers. The right-most digit of a binary
number has a value of 1, the next a value of 2, then 4, 8, 16, and so
on. For example, the binary number 101 has a value of 5.
See also
ASCII.
BIOS:
Basic Input Output System. The firmware that controls data flow
within the computer.
See also
firmware.
bit:
Derived from "binary digit," the basic unit of information used by the
computer. It is either zero or one. Eight bits is one byte.
See also
byte.
board:
A circuit board. An internal card containing electronic components,
called chips, which perform a specific function or increase the
capabilities of the system.
boot:
Short for bootstrap. A program that starts or restarts the computer.
The program reads instructions from a storage device into the
computer's memory.
bps:
Bits per second. Typically used to describe the data transmission
speed of a modem.
buffer:
The portion of the computer's memory where data is temporarily
stored. Buffers often compensate for differences in the rate of flow
from one device to another.
bus:
An interface for transmission of signals, data or electric power.
byte:
The representation of a single character. A sequence of eight bits
treated as a single unit; also the smallest addressable unit within the
system.
