Decimal notation
Also known as the Denary system, for numbers with base 10, using the digits 0 to 9, representing
numbers of units, tens, hundreds, thousands and so on.
Diagnostic
A message automatically produced by a computer to indicate and identify an error in a program.
Digital
Describes the expression of a changing quantity in terms of discrete steps rather than by a
continuous process. The opposite of analogue.
Digitiser
A means of plotting analogue information into a computer. Commonly referred to in conjunction
with graphics tablets.
Disk
A flat, thin circular piece of plastic coated on one or both sides with a magnetic oxide surface and
used as a medium for storing data. The disk is housed at all times in a square protective envelope
or plastic box, with access for the reading head provided by a'window'in the case. Also see Floppy
disk and Winchester.
Disk drive
The unit that records information on the magnetisable surface of a spinning disk and 'reads'
(recovers) information recorded on it.
Documentation
The manuals that are supplied with computers or software to explain how they are operated.
Download
The transfer of information from one computer to another - the computer receiving the data is
generally referred to as the machine downloading. The other end of the link is uploading.
DOS
Disk Operating System. The software that controls all the operations of a disk drive - acts like
the attendant in the 'car park' represented by the logical layout of the disk.
Dot matrix
A rectangular grid of dots on which a character can be displayed by the selection of certain of the
dots.
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