Computer Science Basics

Front

Bit

Back

A contraction of 'Binary Digit'; the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1

Front

Byte

Back

8 bits

Front

Overflow Error

Back

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large.

Front

Round-off Error

Back

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise. The value is rounded.

Front

Analog Data

Back

Data with values that change continuously, or smoothly, over time. Some examples of analog data include music, colors of a painting, or position of a sprinter during a race.

Front

Digital Data

Back

Data that changes discreetly through a finite set of possible values

Front

Sampling

Back

A process for creating a digital representation of analog data by measuring the analog data at regular intervals called samples.

Front

Lossless Compression

Back

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing any information. This process is reversible.

Front

Lossy Compression

Back

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something in which some information is lost or thrown away. This process is not reversible.

Front

Binary

Back

A way of representing information using only two options.