Memory and Storage Vocabulary and Definitions
1. Binary Code / The language that computers communicate with and process information2. Bit / The smallest unit of information that a computer handles; Each individual 0 or 1
3. Byte / A combination of 8 bits; represents a single character, symbol or digit
4. CD / An optical storage device that is used to store music, software and documents
5. CD-R / A CD that you can save to once; thereafter it is read only
6. CD-ROM / A CD that you can never save to
7. CD-RW / A CD that you can burn to many times until it is full; you can reformat, erase and rewrite to this device
8. Cloud Computing / Data is stored on servers that can be accessed via the Internet
9. DVD / An optical storage device that is used to store videos; it also allows for better graphic and greater resolution photos
10. Electronic Storage / Also known as Flash Storage; this is the use of a chip to electronically save, erase or reprogram data
11. External Hard Drive / A hard drive located in a separate case that sits outside of your computer’s system unit
12. Flash Drive / A portable electronic storage device that has an integrated USB port
13. Floppy Disk / A magnetic storage device that is becoming obsolete because it does not have enough storage capacity to save one song or high-resolution photo
14. Gigabyte (GB) / Approximately one billion bytes
15. Hard Drive / A mass storage device located inside a computer’s system unit
16. Kilobyte (KB) / Approximately one thousand bytes
17. Magnetic Storage / A means of recording or saving data onto disk or tape by magnetizing particles
18. Magnetic Tape / Used by some businesses to back up and archive large amounts of data
19. Megabyte (MB) / Approximately one million bytes
20. Memory / The area in the computer that temporarily olds data waiting to be processed
21. Memory Card / A storage device used for storing data in digital cameras, mobile phones, etc.
22. Non-Volatile / Permanent Memory; Contains the instructions the computer uses when it boots
23. Optical Storage / The use of low powered lasers to save (burn) and read data from CDs and DVDs
24. RAM / Memory that holds data as you manipulate (process) it
25. ROM / Contains the instructions the computer uses when it ‘boots up’
26. SaaS / Stands for Software as a Service; you pay to access software over the Internet
27. Solid State Drive / Resides in your computer in place of the hard drive; Data is stored to this device using electronic semiconductors; it has no moving parts
28. Storage / The place where data is held while it is not needed for processing
29. Terabyte (TB) / Approximately one trillion bytes
30. Volatile / Temporary Memory; all data is lost if the computer looses power
NOTE: You may use the following definitions to review for the test.