Edexcel IGCSE Computer Science Glossary Exam
Questions With Complete Answers
abstraction - ANSWER the process of removing or hiding unnecessary detail so that only the
important points remain
access control - ANSWER this decides which users have access to which data, and what they
are allowed to do with it
agent - ANSWER a computer system that can interpret its environment ( through its sensors ).
It can act autonomously upon that environment ( through its effectors )
algorithm - ANSWER a precise method for solving a problem. All instructions given to a
computer must be unambiguous or it won't know what to do.
analogue - ANSWER using signals or information represented by a quantity ( e.g. an electric
voltage or current ) that is continuously variable. Changes in the information being
represented are indicated by changes in voltage. This method requires very accurate sending
and receiving systems.
application programming interface ( API ) - ANSWER code that allows two programs to
communicate each other
,application software - ANSWER software that performs a task that would otherwise be done
by hand, perhaps a pen and paper
arithmetic/logic unit ( ALU ) - ANSWER the part of the CPU that performs calculations and
logic operations
arithmetic operator - ANSWER an operator that performs calculation on two numbers
arithmetic shift - ANSWER used for signed binary numbers. When performing a right shift, the
bits at the left are replaced by copies of the most significant bit
array - ANSWER an organized collection of related values that share a single identifier
ascending order - ANSWER this is arranging items from smallest to largest ( e.g. 1, 2 ,3 ,4, 5, 6,
7, or a, b, c, d )
assembler - ANSWER translates the mnemonics of assembly language programs into machine
language instructions for the microprocessor to carry out
assembly language - ANSWER a low-level language written using mnemonics
assignment statement - ANSWER the SET .. TO command is used to initialise variables in
pseudocode
,audit trail - ANSWER a record of activities that have taken place on a computer system. This
record is generated automatically and will record what has happened and who or what made
the change.
authentication - ANSWER the process of providing to a computer system who you are ( e.g.
using a username and password )
autonomous - ANSWER self-directed and acts without requiring any help or guidance. Can
choose its own goal and uses its experience to achieve it.
back-up - ANSWER a copy of files in another location so that they are still available if the
original copy is damaged or lost. Backing up is the process of making a back-up copy.
bandwidth - ANSWER the amount of data that can be carried on a network in a given period
of time
binary - ANSWER information represented by only two values ( e.g. voltage or no voltage ; on
or off ). There are no communication errors or misunderstandings because there are no small
differences
binary digit ( bits ) - ANSWER the smallest unit of data that is represented in a computer. It
has a single binary value , either 1 or 0.
, binary prefix - ANSWER multiplies a unit by powers of 2
binary shift - ANSWER an operation done on all the bits of a binary value in which they are
moved by a specific number of places to either left or right
bit depth - ANSWER the number of bits used to encode the information from each sample.
Increasing the number of bits used increases the amount of detail contained in each sample.
block of code - ANSWER a grouping of two or more code statements
Bluetooth - ANSWER a protocol for the short-range wireless interconnection of mobile
phones, computers, and other electronic devices
Boolean - ANSWER something that can take only the values True or False ; named after
English Mathematician George Boole
brute force - ANSWER an algorithm design that does not include any techniques to improve
performance, but instead relies on computing power to try all possibilities until the solution
to a problem is found
bug - ANSWER an error or flaw in a computer program
built-in functions - ANSWER functions that are provided in most high-level programming
Questions With Complete Answers
abstraction - ANSWER the process of removing or hiding unnecessary detail so that only the
important points remain
access control - ANSWER this decides which users have access to which data, and what they
are allowed to do with it
agent - ANSWER a computer system that can interpret its environment ( through its sensors ).
It can act autonomously upon that environment ( through its effectors )
algorithm - ANSWER a precise method for solving a problem. All instructions given to a
computer must be unambiguous or it won't know what to do.
analogue - ANSWER using signals or information represented by a quantity ( e.g. an electric
voltage or current ) that is continuously variable. Changes in the information being
represented are indicated by changes in voltage. This method requires very accurate sending
and receiving systems.
application programming interface ( API ) - ANSWER code that allows two programs to
communicate each other
,application software - ANSWER software that performs a task that would otherwise be done
by hand, perhaps a pen and paper
arithmetic/logic unit ( ALU ) - ANSWER the part of the CPU that performs calculations and
logic operations
arithmetic operator - ANSWER an operator that performs calculation on two numbers
arithmetic shift - ANSWER used for signed binary numbers. When performing a right shift, the
bits at the left are replaced by copies of the most significant bit
array - ANSWER an organized collection of related values that share a single identifier
ascending order - ANSWER this is arranging items from smallest to largest ( e.g. 1, 2 ,3 ,4, 5, 6,
7, or a, b, c, d )
assembler - ANSWER translates the mnemonics of assembly language programs into machine
language instructions for the microprocessor to carry out
assembly language - ANSWER a low-level language written using mnemonics
assignment statement - ANSWER the SET .. TO command is used to initialise variables in
pseudocode
,audit trail - ANSWER a record of activities that have taken place on a computer system. This
record is generated automatically and will record what has happened and who or what made
the change.
authentication - ANSWER the process of providing to a computer system who you are ( e.g.
using a username and password )
autonomous - ANSWER self-directed and acts without requiring any help or guidance. Can
choose its own goal and uses its experience to achieve it.
back-up - ANSWER a copy of files in another location so that they are still available if the
original copy is damaged or lost. Backing up is the process of making a back-up copy.
bandwidth - ANSWER the amount of data that can be carried on a network in a given period
of time
binary - ANSWER information represented by only two values ( e.g. voltage or no voltage ; on
or off ). There are no communication errors or misunderstandings because there are no small
differences
binary digit ( bits ) - ANSWER the smallest unit of data that is represented in a computer. It
has a single binary value , either 1 or 0.
, binary prefix - ANSWER multiplies a unit by powers of 2
binary shift - ANSWER an operation done on all the bits of a binary value in which they are
moved by a specific number of places to either left or right
bit depth - ANSWER the number of bits used to encode the information from each sample.
Increasing the number of bits used increases the amount of detail contained in each sample.
block of code - ANSWER a grouping of two or more code statements
Bluetooth - ANSWER a protocol for the short-range wireless interconnection of mobile
phones, computers, and other electronic devices
Boolean - ANSWER something that can take only the values True or False ; named after
English Mathematician George Boole
brute force - ANSWER an algorithm design that does not include any techniques to improve
performance, but instead relies on computing power to try all possibilities until the solution
to a problem is found
bug - ANSWER an error or flaw in a computer program
built-in functions - ANSWER functions that are provided in most high-level programming
