B

backup

A backup is created to guard against data loss that occurs due to hardware failure, corruption, viruses, natural disasters, theft, and human error. Essentially a backup is a copy of existing information so that if the original is lost, a copy exists. A backup can be a burned CD of some digital pictures, or a system in which an entire office of computers is automatically backed up via network to a central server every night, using programs like Retrospect.

binary

The base two number system that computers use. It is unlike the number system humans use, which is base ten. In binary, there are two number choices, a one or a zero. A single binary digit is called a bit. A group of eight bits is called a byte. For convenience’s sake, a kilobyte is considered to be 1000 bytes, but more accurately, because it is within a base two system and is 2¹⁰, a single kilobyte is 1024 bytes. Thus, a gigabyte of RAM is really 1024 megabytes.

binary file

A type of compressed and encoded file, usually containing the .bin suffix. MacBinary files are encoded so that the data contained in them can be stored on other operating systems (like Microsoft Windows) and transferred back and forth without issue. Stuffit Expander can decode these files.

BinHex

A method of encoding and compressing binary files for download and transfer. BinHex files have an .hqx suffix and is the most common format to receive Macintosh software downloads in. Stuffit Expander can decompress these files.

bit

Stands for Binary Digit. A bit is the smallest unit of storage, a one or a zero, a yes or a no, an on or an off, a true or a false.

bit depth

See color depth and pixel depth

bitmap font

Same as fixed-size font

Blessed

Under Mac OS 9.x, or “Classic,” the term Blessed refers to a system folder that is active and recognized by the operating system as a valid and bootable OS. It is possible for a good system folder to become unblessed, causing a Mac not to recognize its ability to boot from. Running a utility such as DiskWarrior will re-bless an unblessed system folder.

bookmark

Refers to a saved URL (Uniform Resource Locator) within a Web browser. For example, if, when using Safari, one wishes to save MacAddict’s Web site (www.macaddict.com) for future viewing, one can go to the Bookmark menu and choose "Add Bookmark" and save the location for easy future access.

boot

The act of powering on a machine and having the operating system loaded and started up. If I asked you to “boot up” your Mac, I’d be asking you to power it on and wait until the OS had finished loading.

bridge

A piece of hardware that is used to move traffic between two different types of networks or networking hardware. An AirPort Base Station is a bridge when it routes information from a wired Ethernet network to its wireless one.

BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution)

There are many different versions, or “flavors,” of Unix that exist, including distributions called Linux, Solaris, and AIX. BSD is an umbrella term for the Unix flavor that has been released by UC Berkeley. It is this version that Mac OS X is based upon.

BSD subsystem

Together with the Mach Kernel, the BSD subsystem makes up Apple’s own flavor of Unix, called Darwin. On top of Darwin, Apple placed its proprietary frameworks like Carbon, Cocoa, and QuickTime, and its Aqua user interface, resulting in Mac OS X.

bug

An error within a piece of software (like a program) or hardware (like a printer) that causes an unwanted behavior, usually resulting in a malfunction. A well-known bug was the Y2K bug, which left many computers (Macs excluded) vulnerable to reverting back to the year 1900 instead of the year 2000 due to the two-digit year limitation encoded in most software. Updates, or “bug-fixes,” are usually released to repair bugs.

built-in memory

Is Apple’s terminology for the RAM (Random Access Memory) that is physically installed in the Machine.

bundle

Another term for package.

burn

When information is recorded onto a CD, (compact disc) the disc is said to be burned. The term stems from the way a CD is recorded, which involves using a laser beam to heat a layer of photosensitive dye.

burn-in

A condition affecting CRT monitors in which a vestige of an unchanging screen image remains visible after the image changes, and even after the computer has powered off. Today’s computer screens are no longer susceptible to burn-in. Flat-panel LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) such as those found on Apple’s PowerBooks are not affected by this condition.

byte

One byte is comprised of 8 bits. A byte is the smallest unit of storage that the Mac OS will recognize. Bytes are commonly measured by many thousands (Kilobytes, or K), millions (Megabytes, or MB), billions (Gigabytes, or GB), and trillions (Terabytes, or TB) at a time.