Basic Operations and Concepts

Information that comes OUT of your computer.

• Input

• Data

• Information

• Output

Local Area Network (example: school/district network)

• WAN

• MAN

• CAN

• LAN

An interface (opening) on a computer where you connect a device like a flash drive, mouse, keyboard, etc.

• Post

• Port

• Plug

• Boot

A portable hard drive that plugs into a USB port.

• Hard drive

• Flash drive

• Soft drive

• Port

The actual physical parts of the computer that you can touch.

• Hardware

• Software

• Operating System

• Program

The "heart" of the computer.

• CPU

• Motherboard

• RAM

• Hard drive

This stores information temporarily for short term use. The more you have the faster your computer will run.

• CPU

• Hard drive

• RAM

• WAN

These are programs that run on your computer. (example: Google, games, etc.)

• Software

• Hardware

• Adware

• Spyware

Re-starting a computer that has already been powered on.

• Cold Boot

• Hot Boot

• Warm Boot

• Chilly Boot

This is the CD/DVD drive and it reads and writes using a laser.

• Hard drive

• Optical drive

• Soft drive

• USB drive