Glossary

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access rights

Rules that control who can perform actions with files and other resources on a computer.

address book

Stored email contact information.

aggregate function

A function, such as Excel's SUM and COUNT , that operates on a range of data to produce a single result.

analog

A device capable of storing or displaying a smooth range of values, for example, a mercury thermometer.

application software

Software that is used for a particular task, such as writing a letter, displaying a file, or composing music.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line ( ADSL )

A type of high-speed phone line that carries more information in one direction than the other.

AutoFill

An Excel feature to quickly fill in information such as days of the week or months of the year.

backup

A copy of your files. Some people (and most organizations) routinely backup their entire systems.

binary system

A system for representing numbers using only the digits 1 and 0. It is the system that computers use internally.

bit

A single piece of yes or no information.

bits per second ( bps )

A measurement of the speed of data transmission.

bookmark/favorites

Stored links that quickly access the Internet pages you view frequently.

boot

The process of turning on your system.

byte

Eight bits of information.

cache

Web pages and other files that are stored on your local system for quicker viewing.

CD-ROM

A storage device resembling a music CD.

cell

The basic unit of an Excel worksheet.

cell reference

Part of an Excel formula that refers to another cell. Cell references can be absolute ($A$1) or relative (A1).

central processing unit ( CPU )

(1) The integrated circuit that provides the brain of a computer.

(2) Informally, the box housing the CPU circuit and other hardware.

client/server

A computing scheme in which a central server delivers information to and receives updates from many client computers.

column

The structural part of a table that composes a field.

compression

Electronic reduction of a file size or folder.

cookie

A small text file left on your local system by a Web site.

criteria

An expression that limits the results of a query.

database

Stores data in tables built of rows and columns .

data cartridge

A removable storage device most suited for backups of information.

data source document

In a mail merge, the document that contains the unique data that personalizes each letter.

data type

A field property that defines what type of data the field can store.

design template

A PowerPoint file containing elements such as colors and fonts that you can use to apply a consistent look to a presentation.

design view mode

The mode in which you modify a database object's design.

desktop

An onscreen work area. In Windows , it's the screen that greets you when you turn on your system and from where you can launch your most often used applications and files.

desktop menu alias

Shortcut icon that works the same as the Start menu item.

digital

A device that stores information in discrete values. Computers are digital devices that use the values 1 and 0 for storage.

digital camera

A camera that stores photographs in memory rather than on film.

digital certificate

Code that allows you to send an encrypted message via a secure Web site.

digital signature

Similar to digital certificate but used with email.

diskette

A removable storage device that holds a small amount of data.

download

Transfer of data from a Web site to your local system.

drag and drop

A Windows method of selecting and dragging screen elements from one position to another.

ECDL

European Computer Driving License. The ECDL is administered by the ECDL Foundation, http://www.ecdl.com.

electronic commerce ( e-commerce )

Purchasing of goods or services over the Internet.

electronic mail ( email )

Transmission of messages and files over the Internet.

encryption

A type of security by which the process translates text into code.

end- user license agreement ( EULA )

A legal contract that governs the acceptable use of a software package.

ergonomics

A branch of applied science that is concerned with designing workplaces that are both efficient and comfortable.

extension

The three or four characters following the dot character ( . ) at the end of a filename.

extranet

A network that connects a company with its business partners .

field

The smallest unit of data in a table.

File Transfer Protocol ( FTP )

A method used to transfer files over the Internet.

Find (Search) command

A built-in feature that locates text within a document.

folder

A storage element in which you can store other folders and files.

foreign key

A primary key value in a related table. Foreign keys provide a way to link data in one table with data in another table.

form

A database object by which you can interact with the data.

format

To prepare a storage device so that it can store computer files.

formula

An instruction to Excel that tells it how to calculate the contents of a particular cell.

freeware

Software that may be legally used without paying a license fee.

freeze

In Excel, an operation that keeps some cells visible even when you scroll to another location in the worksheet.

function

In Excel, a built-in calculation such as SUM , COUNT , or AVERAGE .

gigahertz ( GHz )

One billion operations per second, a measure of CPU speed.

graphical user interface ( GUI )

A user interface featuring windows, icons, colors, and fonts.

hard disk

A storage device designed to permanently hold large amounts of data.

hardware

All the physical parts of a computer.

history

Stored links in your Web browser that track the sites you've recently visited.

hyperlink

Text that, when clicked, accesses another area of the current document, another file, or another Web page.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol ( HTTP )

The method that computers use to communicate with other computers over the World Wide Web.

ICDL

International Computer Driving License. It is the version of the ECDL for countries outside Europe.

icon

A small image that represents an object or file.

image

A visual representation from a disk file.

index

An internal structure that stores key values which act as pointers to the stored data.

information technology ( IT )

The general term for all the hardware, software, and services associated with computer use.

input device

Any piece of hardware that you can use to send information to the computer.

input language

The language used to enter text at any given time.

Integrated Services Digital Network ( ISDN )

A type of high-speed phone line for fast computer networking.

Internet

A single global wide area network (WAN) that connects millions of computers together.

Internet service provider ( ISP )

Company that provides access to the Internet.

intranet

A network that connects computers belonging to a single company.

joystick

An input device that is similar to an airplane's control stick.

laptop computer

A portable computer that is designed to be folded up to protect its screen.

light pen

An input device that allows you to select an area directly onscreen.

local area network ( LAN )

A network that connects the computers at a single location.

mail merge

The process of merging two documents into one, new document.

main document

The document that contains the repeated data (form letter) in a mail merge.

mainframe computer

A large computer that is typically used to run the operations of an entire department or company.

master slide

A slide whose elements are shown on every slide in a PowerPoint presentation.

megahertz ( MHz )

One million operations per second, a measure of CPU speed.

menu bar

Element at the top of an application window that displays built-in features and options.

merge fields

Field codes within the body of the main document that match fields in the data source document.

microphone

An input device that lets you issue voice commands to a computer.

modem

A device for converting digital computer data to analog phone signals and vice versa.

monitor

An output device that displays information on a screen.

most-recently used ( MRU ) list

A list of files that you have recently opened in a particular application, normally found at the bottom of the File menu.

mouse

An input device that lets you control a cursor onscreen by moving around on a flat surface.

multitasking

The ability of the computer to perform more than one task at the same time. For example, you can open both a word processing program and a spreadsheet at the same time.

netiquette

Rules of proper online behavior.

network computer

A computer that relies on devices elsewhere on the network to store information for it.

one-to-many relationship

An association between two tables where a primary key value can relate to one, many, or even no records in the related table.

one-to-one relationship

An association between two tables where a primary key value relates to only one (or no) record in the related table.

operating system software

Software that controls the basic operations of the computer.

option card

An accessory card in the base unit of a computer that handles video display, network communications, or other tasks .

output device

Any piece of hardware that the computer can use to send information to you.

paragraph mark

A nonprintable character that determines the end of a paragraph.

password

A secret piece of information used to verify your identity to the computer.

peripheral device

Any device that is outside of the computer's main base unit.

personal computer

A computer that fits on or under an individual desktop and that stores its own information.

personal digital assistant ( PDA )

A shirt-pocketsize computer with limited storage capacity.

picture

A visual representation from a built-in set of images in an application.

plotter

An output device that uses one or more pens to create drawings.

presentation

A single PowerPoint file containing one or more slides.

primary key

The field or fields that uniquely identify a record.

printer

An output device that prints text or graphics on paper.

program

A piece of software with a particular function.

proper case

Begins each word with an uppercase letter; the remaining letters in the word are lowercase.

Public Switched Telephone Network ( PSTN )

The normal voice telephone network.

query

A database object that answers questions about the data by selecting and limiting the data you see.

random access memory ( RAM )

Computer memory that can be either read or written but which loses its contents when you switch the computer off.

read-only

Describes a file you can view but not change.

read-only memory ( ROM )

Computer memory whose contents cannot be altered but which maintains its value even when the power is removed.

read-write

Describes a file you can both view and change.

record

The actual data for one entity in a table.

recycle bin

A Windows folder that stores deleted files.

referential integrity

Rules that control when data can be added, modified, or deleted.

relational database management system ( RDBMS )

A database application that stores and manipulates data and allows for relationships to be formed between tables.

relationship

An association between two tables.

report

A database object that displays data in meaningful groups and orders.

root directory

The beginning level of storage on a hard drive or diskette.

row

The related fields that compose a record.

scanner

An input device that can convert printed text or graphics into computer files.

screen resolution

System setting that determines the size of screen elements (by changing the total number of pixels on the screen).

screen saver

A file that displays moving elements when the computer is idle for a specific length of time.

scrollbar

A graphical element that allows you to view data that extends past the right or bottom of the screen.

search engine

An online service that provides links to target documents.

shareware

Software that can be freely used for a limited period of time without paying a licensing fee.

shortcut icons

Icons that execute defined tasks, such as opening a file.

slide

A single screen of information within a presentation.

soft carriage return

Similar to the paragraph mark in that it forces text to the next line.

software

The intangible instructions that tell the CPU and hardware what to do.

speakers

An output device that conveys information by means of sound.

spreadsheet

An Excel file containing one or more worksheets.

status bar

An element that constantly updates with information about the current task or environment.

storage device

Any device designed to store computer files.

subfolder

A folder within a folder.

surge protector

An electronic device that protects your system from high voltage spikes that would otherwise destroy your system.

table

An object used to organize text and graphics in rows and columns.

teleworking

Commuting by modem instead of physically.

text editor

A program that allows you to enter and manipulate text in a document and then saves that document.

title bar

Element at the top of a window that displays descriptive text about the window.

toolbar

Window element that displays built-in features and options by way of icons.

touchpad

An input device that lets you control the cursor by moving your finger or a stylus around a flat pad.

touchscreen

An input/output device that displays information and allows you to select information by touch.

trackball

An input device that lets you control the cursor by moving a ball in a fixed frame.

transfer rate

The speed with which a computer can send information across a network.

unfreeze

In Excel, to allow all rows and columns of a worksheet to scroll freely.

Uniform Resource Locator ( URL )

A Web address. Type it into a Web browser to find a Web page you want to view.

user ID

An identifier for a particular user on a network.

view mode

The mode in which you actually interact with data through database objects.

virus

Malicious computer code that is designed to spread from computer to computer.

virus-scanning application

Specialized software that scans your system, diskettes, and email for signs of virus infestation.

Web browser

A software application that accesses information on the Internet.

wide area network ( WAN )

A network that connects computers at multiple locations.

wildcard

A symbol that represents one or more characters.

window

The most common user interface element for displaying and gathering information.

Windows Explorer

The graphical interface that Windows uses to display the system's file structure.

worksheet

The contents of a single tab in an Excel spreadsheet. One spreadsheet may contain from one to an unlimited number of worksheets.

World Wide Web ( WWW )

A network that uses HTTP to request and display Web pages. It is only one way of accessing all the information available on the Internet.

Zip disk

A removable storage device that holds a few hundred megabytes of information.

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