| Term | Definition |
| Application | refers to the specific uses of a computer and the jobs it can perform. |
| Backup | A second copy of computer data made to avoid data loss in the even of the computer. |
| Byte | a unit that measures data. |
| Case management/electronic case filing | the electronic filing system used in the federal court system. |
| CD-ROM | compact disk-read only memory. |
| Central processing unit | the part of a computer system where all computations, sorting, selecting, and data manipulation take place; oversees the use of the main memory and monitors input and output operations. |
| Database | a compilation of data fields and records that is collected, stored, and organized for later retrieval through sorting, searches, queries, etc. |
| Database management system | software that is used to collect, store, and organize data into a database. |
| Data source | connection set up to a database from a server. |
| Document management system | a computerized mechanism for naming, storing, and labeling documents for ease and accuracy of later retrieval. |
| Electronic filing | The process of submitting tax returns over the Internet. |
| Email | the system of delivering and receiving messages electronically using a modem or router, telephone line or cable, and communications software. |
| Field | a particular branch of study or sphere of activity or interest. |
| Fonts | styling of words typed. |
| Footers | a line or block of text appearing at the foot of each page of a book or document. |
| Graphical user interface | a system using icons and pictures to display menus and choices on a computer |
| Hardware | the physical elements of a computer, such as a keyboard, monitor, printer, case or chassis, modem, scanner, and joy stick. |
| Headers | something that goes in front of something else |
| Input device | keyboard, mouse, optical character reader, imaging scanner, and voice recognition system. |
| Justification | the action of showing something to be right or reasonable. |
| Links | web addresses that contain an activated linkage to another location or website on the internet. |
| Local area network | the linking of computers within close proximity, i.e., in the same building. |
| Macro | a single instruction that expands automatically into a set of instructions to perform a particular task. |
| Mainframe computers | Large, very expensive, high-speed machines that require trained operators and special temperature environments, used for scientific and engineering computations. |
| Malware | a general term referring to problems that can be transmitted from computer to computer through e-mail or Internet access, such as viruses, Trojans, and keyboard scanners. |
| Metadata | Data stored in a computer that shows who created, accessed, or revised a document, what changes were made and by whom, and the dates and times when all of this occurred. |
| Microcomputers | small-sized computers often called personal or desktop computers. |
| Minicomputers | mid-sized, powerful computers often used as network servers. |
| Open codes | codes that are invoked once to create a change in line spacing, margins, tab settings, font changes, justification, and page numbering. |
| Operating system | software that controls the flow of information to and from the central processing unit and to and from the input/output devices. |
| Optical character recognition | a scanner that converts an image into a character-based text file. |
| Output device | computer peripherals such as monitors and printers. |
| Paired codes | codes that are turned on and off to invoke changes such as underlining, bold face, italics, and styles and affect only the text appearing between paired codes. |
| Peripherals | devices that are connected to a computer, such as terminals, tape drives, disk drives, modems, and printers. |
| Portable computers | notebooks, laptops, handheld, tablet, and even smartphones qualify as portable computers. |
| Record | a thing constituting a piece of evidence about the past, especially an account of an act or occurrence kept in writing or some other permanent form. |
| Redline | refuse (a loan or insurance) to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk. |
| Repetitive strain injury | an injury caused by physical strain due to repetitive movement; carpal tunnel is a common RSI |
| Software | all programs needed to instruct, control, and operate the hardware of a computer system such as flowcharts, manuals, programs, routines, training, and the like. |
| Styles | a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed. |
| Trackpad | a device found on many laptops that allows fingertip control of cursor movement. |
| Trackball | A device with a ball on top that is rolled with the fingertips to move the cursor, while the base of the device remains stationary. |
| Uniform resource locator | the address at which an internet site can be located. |
| USB drives | sometimes called memory sticks, flash drives, or thumb drives, these device plug into USB drives on a computer and contain memory that functions like a hard device. |
| Virus | computer code that can be copied into an existing computer program and make itself known by impeding correct function of the program. |
| Web browser | a program that allows a computer user to explore the internet. |
| Webcam | a camera on a computer. |
| Web page or Website | a page found on an internet site. |
| Wide area network | the linking of computers that are located far apart, i.e., in different cities, through cables, fiber optics, or satellites. |
| Zip drive | a portable computer drive, now nearly obsolete due to the common usage of recordable CDs and DVDs. |
