Tevin Audy Jordan Web Designer, Web Developer Aug. 26, 2023 Basic Computer Terminology and De6nitions for All Users Primary computer lingo for users ranging from beginners to experts. Storage stores data long-term for permanent access. It's the component that accesses and stores your 7les, applications, and operating system. RAM (Random-Access Memory) RAM is a temporary memory bank where your computer stores data it needs to retrieve quickly. RAM is used for any task that requires quick access to computing resources. When the computer is turned oC, the RAM is erased. Also referred to as "memory". ROM (Read-Only Memory) Unlike RAM, this type of storage is not changed, even when the computer is turned oC. Can only be read, not written to. CPU (Central Processing Unit) The most important processor in a computer. The main function of a CPU is to execute a sequence of stored instructions. This is what we call a program. GUI (Graphical User-Interface) Uses pictures and words to represent ideas, choices, functions, etc. This esse refers to what you see on a screen while you are interacting with an app. Driver A driver is a software program that controls a piece of hardware or a peripheral device. For example, if a computer has an outdated Bluetooth driver installed (or none at all), then the Bluetooth function will not work. NIC (Network Interface Card) A computer component, also known as a board, that is installed in a computer to establish a physical connection to a network. Boot Alternatively referred to as boot-up or start-up, booting is the process of turning on a computer and initializing the operating system. OS (Operating System) The software installed on a computer's hard drive is known as the operating system. It enables the computer hardware (physical components) to communicate and function with the computer software (virtual elements on the computer). Disk Drive A peripheral device that reads and/or writes information on a disk. There are 2 main types of disk drives for computers: HDD & SSD. HDD (Hard Drive or Hard Disk Drive) HDDs are traditional storage devices that use mechanical spinning disks and a moving read/write head to access data. Because HDDs are mechanical, the hard disk is the slowest and most fragile component of any computer. HDDs can be extremely cost-eVcient for long-term oWine storage, while SSDs, due to their Xash storage, can make 7le recovery more diVcult. SSD (Solid-State Drive) A more recent type of storage device, the SSD (Solid State Drive), is non- mechanical, utilizing a chip instead of a spinning disk to store information on Xash memory. SSDs perform considerably faster than HDDs and are recognized for being quicker, quieter, smaller, more durable, and consuming less energy than their HDD counterparts. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) The computer's microprocessor that is used start the computer system after it is powered on