Comptia A+ Vocabulary
Adapter -
☑️An electronic circuit card that inserts into an expansion slot.
BIOS -
☑️(Basic Input Output System) A chip that contains computer software that locates the
operating system.
Bit -
☑️An electronically charged 1 or 0.
Byte -
☑️8 Bits grouped together as a basic unit.
Device Driver -
☑️Special software that allows an operating system to access a piece of hardware.
Display -
☑️A device that shows computer output.
Expansion Slot -
☑️A motherboard socket into which adapters are connected
Firmware -
☑️Combines hardware and software attributes.
Gigabyte -
☑️Approximately 1 billion bytes of info. 1,073,741,824
Hard Drive -
☑️A sealed data storage medium in which info is stored.
Hardware -
☑️A tangible physical item.
Keyboard -
☑️Allows user to input info into the computer.
Kilobyte -
☑️Approximately 1000 Bytes of info. 1,024
KVM Switch -
☑️(Keyboard, Video, Mouse Switch) A component that allows multiple compters to be
connected to s single keyboard, monitor, and mouse.
Megabyte -
☑️Approximately 1 million Bytes of info. 1,048,576
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, Memory -
☑️The part of a computer that temporarily stores applications, documents, and system
operating info.
Motherboard -
☑️The main circuit board of a computer.
Operating System -
☑️(OS) A piece of software that loads a computer and makes it operational.
Optical Drive -
☑️A storage device that accepts disks.
Optical Mouse -
☑️A mouse that has an optical sensor.
Output Device -
☑️A piece of hardware that receives data from a computer.
PC -
☑️Personal Computer
Power Supply -
☑️A devices that converts AC voltage to DC voltage so a computer can power on all
devices.
RAM -
☑️(Random Access Memory) A volotile type of memeory that loses its data when the
computer is powered off.
Software -
☑️An application consisiting of a set of instructions that makes hardware work.
Terabyte -
☑️Approximately 1 trillion bytes of information. 1,099,511,627,776
Active Cable -
☑️A cable with an emedded ship to boost signal strength thus allowing it to be thinner
and longer than a passice cable. Used in networks and video systems.
Analog Signal -
☑️Used mainly by older video ports, modems, and sound devices; its signal strength
varies in amplitude.
Bluetooth -
☑️A wireless technology for personal area networks. (PAN)
BNC Connector -
☑️(Bayonet Niell-Concelman) A connector used on coaxial cable.
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Adapter -
☑️An electronic circuit card that inserts into an expansion slot.
BIOS -
☑️(Basic Input Output System) A chip that contains computer software that locates the
operating system.
Bit -
☑️An electronically charged 1 or 0.
Byte -
☑️8 Bits grouped together as a basic unit.
Device Driver -
☑️Special software that allows an operating system to access a piece of hardware.
Display -
☑️A device that shows computer output.
Expansion Slot -
☑️A motherboard socket into which adapters are connected
Firmware -
☑️Combines hardware and software attributes.
Gigabyte -
☑️Approximately 1 billion bytes of info. 1,073,741,824
Hard Drive -
☑️A sealed data storage medium in which info is stored.
Hardware -
☑️A tangible physical item.
Keyboard -
☑️Allows user to input info into the computer.
Kilobyte -
☑️Approximately 1000 Bytes of info. 1,024
KVM Switch -
☑️(Keyboard, Video, Mouse Switch) A component that allows multiple compters to be
connected to s single keyboard, monitor, and mouse.
Megabyte -
☑️Approximately 1 million Bytes of info. 1,048,576
1
, Memory -
☑️The part of a computer that temporarily stores applications, documents, and system
operating info.
Motherboard -
☑️The main circuit board of a computer.
Operating System -
☑️(OS) A piece of software that loads a computer and makes it operational.
Optical Drive -
☑️A storage device that accepts disks.
Optical Mouse -
☑️A mouse that has an optical sensor.
Output Device -
☑️A piece of hardware that receives data from a computer.
PC -
☑️Personal Computer
Power Supply -
☑️A devices that converts AC voltage to DC voltage so a computer can power on all
devices.
RAM -
☑️(Random Access Memory) A volotile type of memeory that loses its data when the
computer is powered off.
Software -
☑️An application consisiting of a set of instructions that makes hardware work.
Terabyte -
☑️Approximately 1 trillion bytes of information. 1,099,511,627,776
Active Cable -
☑️A cable with an emedded ship to boost signal strength thus allowing it to be thinner
and longer than a passice cable. Used in networks and video systems.
Analog Signal -
☑️Used mainly by older video ports, modems, and sound devices; its signal strength
varies in amplitude.
Bluetooth -
☑️A wireless technology for personal area networks. (PAN)
BNC Connector -
☑️(Bayonet Niell-Concelman) A connector used on coaxial cable.
2
