Glossary-3
asynchronous: Lacking regular time
relationship. As applied to computer
communications, asynchronous refers
to the method of transmitting data that
does not require a steady stream of bits
to be transmitted at regular time inter-
vals.
AUTOEXEC.BAT: A batch file that
executes a series of MS-DOS com-
mands and programs each time you
start the computer.
B
backup: A duplicate copy of files kept
as a spare in case the original is
destroyed.
batch file: A file that can be executed
from the system prompt containing a
sequence of operating system com-
mands or executable files. See also
AUTOEXEC.BAT.
binary: The base two number system
composed of zeros and ones (off or
on), used by most digital computers.
The right most digit of a binary num-
ber has a value of 1, the next a value of
2, then 4, 8, 16, and so on. For exam-
ple, the binary number 101 has a value
of 5. See also ASCII.
BIOS: Basic Input Output System.
The firmware that controls data flow
within the computer. See also firm-
ware.
bit: Derived from ģbinary digit,ī the
basic unit of information used by the
computer. It is either zero or one. Eight
bits is one byte. See also byte.
Byte
Bluetooth: A short-range radio tech-
nology designed to simplify wireless
communication among computers,
communication devices and the Inter-
net.
board: A circuit board. An internal
card containing electronic compo-
nents, called chips, which perform a
specific function or increase the capa-
bilities of the system.
boot: Short for bootstrap. A program
that starts or restarts the computer. The
program reads instructions from a stor-
age device into the computer’s mem-
ory.
bps: Bits per second. Typically used to
describe the data transmission speed of
a modem.
buffer: The portion of the computer’s
memory where data is temporarily
stored. Buffers often compensate for
differences in the rate of flow from one
device to another.
bus: An interface for transmission of
signals, data or electric power.
byte: The representation of a single
character. A sequence of eight bits
treated as a single unit; also the small-
est addressable unit within the system.
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