Computer Glossary
I am a student in Electronics and I made this glossary to help out people who don't know the specific terms used in our domain. It is going to be very useful if you don't know much about computers and their parts.
- Analog
- adjective / noun
- An analog device uses a physical quantity, such as length or voltage, to represent the value of a number. By contrast, digital storage relies on a coding system of numeric units.A method of storing information, used by most audiotapes, videotapes and laserdiscs
- Example: There are several methods for mapping ANALOG filters to digital filters, such as Invaria.
- fr: Analogue
- Backup
- noun / verb
- n. A resource that is or can be used as a substitute when a primary resource fails or when a file has been corrupted. v. To save as in to make a copy in case of future failure or corruption.
- Example: I need to backup my computer in case it breaks.
- fr: sauvegarde
- bandwith
- Noun
- Signals require a certain size and location of bandwidth in order to be transmitted. The higher the bandwidth, the faster the signal transmission, and thus allowing for a more complex signal such as audio or video. Because bandwidth is a limited space, when one user is occupying it, others must wait for their turn.
- Example: My dad takes up all the bandwidth when he watches Netflix.
- fr: bande passante
- Binary number
- noun
- A number written using binary notation which only uses zeros and ones. Example: decimal number seven in binary notation is: 111.
- Example: If each of them were assigned a 6-bit BINARY NUMBER (0 - 31) then this would take 393,21.
- fr: Nombre binaire
- Booting
- verb
- Turning on your computer.
- Example: I'm going to Boot my computer first.
- fr: démarrage
- Byte
- noun
- A group of adjacent binary digits, usually 8, on which a computer operates as a unit; often used to represent a single character.
- Example: This app on my phone takes up 100 mega bytes of space.
- fr: Octet
- cable
- noun
- A set of wires connecting pieces of hardware.
- Example: You should check if your cable is plugged in properly.
- fr: Câble
- chip
- noun
- A tiny piece of semi-conductive material, usually based on silicon, used in the manufacture of electronic components.
- Example: You should use this chip not the other one.
- fr: puce
- CPU
- phrase
- Central Processing Unit. The main internal component of a computer where executions of instructions are carried out and calculations are performed.
- Example: I just bought this new CPU.
- fr: CPU
- data
- noun
- Information suitable for communication, interpretation or processing by a computer.
- Example: I have 2 gigabytes of data on my phone.
- fr: Données
- Digital
- noun / adjective
- Used in computerese to describe information that can be represented by a collection of bits.
- Example: Elimitations, such as only being about to handle DIGITAL values.
- fr: digitale
- Display
- noun
- A device that enables information, either textual or pictorial, to be seen but not permanently recorded.
- Example: You have a big display on your phone.
- fr: Écran
- Ethernet
- noun
- A local area network for linking personal computers.
- Example: Your Ethernet cable is not long enough to go ll the way over there.
- fr: Ethernet
- graphic
- noun
- A computer-generated picture produced on a computer screen or paper, ranging from simple line or bar graphs to colorful and detailed images.
- Example: My graphics aren't loading.
- fr: graphique
- GPU
- Phrase
- Graphical processing unit. Unit designed to calculate everything related to displaying graphics on your screen.
- Example: This GPU has 6 gigabytes of dedicated memory.
- fr: GPU
- Memory
- noun
- A device or medium that serves for temporary storage of programs and data during program execution. The term is synonymous with storage, although it is most frequently used for referring to the internal storage of a computer that can be directly addressed by operating instructions.
- Example: My memory is full.
- fr: mémoire
- RAM
- phrase
- Your computer's temporary storage capacity, measured in gigabytes (GB) or megabytes (MB) of RAM (random-access memory).
- Example: I have 16 gigabytes of RAM.
- fr: RAM
- Motherboard
- noun
- Circuit board with all the necessary connecters for a good functioning computer.
- Example: There is no fan connector left on my motherboard.
- fr: Carte-Mère
- SSD
- phrase
- A solid-state drive, smaller but faster storage space on your computer. Writing and reading time are faster since it isn’t a mechanic drive.
- Example: This new SSD works better than my old hard drive.
- fr: SSD
- HDD
- phrase
- Hard disk drive, big and slower because de disk inside have a limited amount of revolutions per minute.
- Example: My HDD has 1 terabyte of space on it.
- fr: HDD
