Glossary of Computer Terms—C

Glossary of Computer Terms—C

C

C: A programming language developed at AT&T.

CACHE: Web browsers store accessed information in a folder on your hard drive called a cache. Some also store information in memory for faster access. This saves time when a user goes to another page on a site with the same graphics. The Iowa Newspaper Association site uses many of the same graphics throughout to take advantage of this feature to speed browsing.

CAD-CAM: Computer Aided Drawing-Computer Aided Manufacturing. The instructions stored in a computer that will be translated to very precise operating instructions to a robot, such as for assembling cars or lasercutting signage.

CD-ROM (COMPACT DISK READ-ONLY MEMORY): An aluminized disk, 4.72" in diameter that provides an optical storage medium for digital data up to 650 Megabytes. A laser beam permanently burns data into its surface which cannot be over-written, altered, or erased, providing read-only memory capability. Larger size disks are generally called “laser disks”.

CD-R or WORM (COMPACT DISK, WRITE ONCE, READ MANY MEMORY): A blank disk that can be programmed once, permanently storing up to 650 Megabytes of digital data. Once programmed, it has essentially the same features as a CD-ROM.

CD-E or CD R/W (COMPACT DISK, ERASABLE, READ/WRITE MEMORY): Capable of storing up to 650 Megabytes of digital data. It uses a magneto-optical technology that combines the storage capacity and reliability of optical disks and the erasability of magnetic media.

CGA: Stands for Color Graphics Adapter. It’s a piece of hardware that plays with colors.

CGI: Common Gateway Interface. A programming standard that allows visitors to fill out form fields on a Web page and have that information interact with a database, possibly coming back to the user as another Web page. CGI may also refer to Computer-Generated Imaging, the process in which sophisticated computer programs create still and animated graphics, such as special effects for movies.

CHARACTER GENERATOR: A circuit that accepts digital data and forms the corresponding letters and numerals for a monitor or printer.

CHAT: Typing text into a message box on a screen to engage in dialog with one or more people via the Internet or other network.

CHIP A tiny wafer of silicon containing miniature electric circuits that can store millions of bits of information.

CLIENT/SERVER: Computer technology that separates computers and their users into two categories: clients or servers. When you want information from a computer on the Internet, you are a client. The computer that delivers the information is the server. A server both stores information and makes it available to any authorized client who requests the information.

CLIPBOARD: A temporary data (text and graphics) storage facility used when transferring data to a new location.

CLOCK: A digital pulse generator that controls the timing of a computer and, to a great extent, determines the speed (number of instructions per second) capability of the computer. Generally, it is located in the CPU.

CLONE: An imitation or copy of the original. Usually refers to building a computer system that is based on and compatible with another computer company’s system.

CLUSTER: In a Windows environment, Cluster refers to the allocated space within files measured in units. A cluster is part of a group of a logical disk sector. Cluster can also refer to a group of computers networked together and used as a single unit.

CLUSTERING: This is a way of connecting two (or more) computers together using clustering hardware so that they share the processing load. If ten computers of equal processing speed are clustered together, you would in a sense have a single computer with ten times the processing capacity. The most common use of this technique is with search engines where it is used to provide speedy search results. A couple of other common uses of clustering can be to increase storage capacities or for networks that require load balancing to increase a networks availability and stability.

CMOS LOGIC: A CMOS technology monolithic IC “logic family” characterized by low power dissipation per gate, high chip density, and relatively high propagation delay per gate compared with bipolar IC logic families.

COBOL: Stands for Common Business Oriented Language.

CODEC: Short form for Compressor/Decompressor. This technology is used for compressing and decompressing data. Codecs are widely used in both hardware and software. A few examples of codecs are: Cinepak, Indeo and MPEG.

COM: Stands for Component Object Module.

COMPILER: A software program that converts (translates) a complete software program written in high-level language SOURCE CODE (such as PASCAL or FORTRAN) into machine language. The entire source code is edited, compiled, and run at one time as compared to an INTERPRETER that is run one line at a time. This is an application that converts a programming language into a machine language program.

COMPLEMENT: Reversal of bit values: “1s” become “0s” and “0s” become “1s”.

CONCURRENCY: The independent execution of two or more sequences of events that are either occurring, or appearing to occur simultaneously.

CONSOLE: The term referring to a combination of a DISPLAY and KEYBOARD.

CONTROL BUS: A set of transmission lines whose function is to carry synchronization signals and control data as part of the SYSTEM BUS.

CONTROL UNIT (CU): Part of the CPU containing the CLOCK, PROGRAM COUNTER and INSTRUCTION REGISTER. The CONTROL UNIT also generates control signals and manages the CONTROL BUS.

COOKIE: A text file sent by a Web server that is stored on the hard drive of a computer and relays back to the Web server things about the user, his or her computer, and/or his or her computer activities.

COUNTER: A circuit whose output(s) change state in a specified sequence on receiving appropriate input signals. The circuit can provide a required output pulse after receiving a specified number of input pulses.

COUNTERFEITING: People make duplicate CDs of original software and sells them at low price.

CPU: Stands for Central Processing Unit. This is the brain of your computer. It is made up of two parts: The Arithmetic Logic Unit (this does all the processing) and the Control Unit (this makes sure every part of the computer is working together to present the information).

CRACKER: A person who “breaks in” to a computer through a network, without authorization and with mischievous or destructive intent (a crime in some states).

CRASH: A hardware or software problem that causes information to be lost or the computer to malfunction. Sometimes a crash can cause permanent damage to a computer.

CSS: Stands for Cascading Style Sheets.

CURSOR: A moving position-indicator displayed on a computer monitor that shows a computer operator where the next action or operation will take place. 
CYBERSPACE: This is a term that gives us a way to sort of “see” what we are surfing while on the Net. It’s a generic term for the entire Internet, not just the World Wide Web.
      2. Slang for the Internet.