Term | Definition |
Application | Sof a computer and the jobs it can perform, |
Backup | A second copy of computer data made to avoid data loss in the event of a computer outage. |
Byte | A unit that measures data. One byte is the equivalent of one letter, number, or punctuation mark. A kilobyte (KB) is one thousand bytes; a megabyte (MG) is one million bytes; a gigabyte (GB) is one million bytes. |
Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) | The electronic filling system used in the federal court system. |
CD-ROM | Compact Disk-Read Only Memory |
Central Processing Unit (CPU) | The part of the 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 collects, 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. |
Electronic filing (efiling) | A system used by courts, government agencies, attorneys, and the public to reduce paperwork and electronically file documents over the internet using a standard web browser, |
Email | a system for sending messages from one individual to another via telecommunications links between computers or terminals using dedicated software |
Field | One piece of information about a person or business used in a data source. |
Fonts | Refers to the style or design of a collection of letters, numerals, symbols, and punctuation marks. |
Footers | Used in documents and pleadings to place the title and page number on each page as well as other document information. |
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 | Places text and graphics at the top of each page. |
Input Device | Keyboard, mouse, optical character reader, imaging scanner, and voice recognition system are all examples. |
Justification | Refers to 4 types of text alignment, left justification, center justification, full justification, or right justification. |
Links | Web address that contain an activated linkage to another location or website on the internet. |
Local area network (LAN) | The linking of computers within close proximity, i.e., in the same building |
Macro(s) | A computer feature that allows the operator to record multiple keystrokes and then play them back with just a few keystrokes. |
Mainframe Computers | Large, very expensive high-speed machines that require trained operators and special temperature environments, used for specific and engineering computation. |
Malware | A general term referring to problems that can be transmitters from computer to computer through email or Internet access, such as viruses, Trojans, and keyboard scanners. |
Metadata | Data stores 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 (PCs) |
Minicomputers | Mid-sized, powerful computers often used as a 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 which affect only text to the right of the code. |
Operating System | Software that controls the flow of information to and from the central processing unit and to and from the input and output devices. |
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) | A scanner that converts an image into a character- based text file. |
Output Device | A computer peripheral such as a monitor or printer, |
Paired Codes | Codes that are turns on and off to invoke changes such as underlining, bold face, italics, and styles and affect only the text appearing between the paired codes. |
Peripherals | Devices that are connected to a computer, such as terminals, tape drives, disk drives, modems, printers, and scanners. |
Portable computers | Notebooks, laptops, handhelds, tablets, and even smartphones qualify as portable computers. |
Record | Made up of all the fields relating to one person or business in a data source. |
Redline (blacklines) | The feature which allows the comparison of one document to another. |
Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) | 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 | The tool used to create a consistent appearance in a word processing document, while reducing keystrokes required to format the document. |
Track pad | A device found on many laptops that allows fingerprint 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 (URL) | The address or code at which an Internet site ca be located. |
USB drives | Sometimes called memory sticks, flash drives, or thumb drives, these devices plug into USB drives or a computer and contain memory that functions like a hard drive. |
Virus | Computer code that can be copied into existing computer program and make itself known by in peding correct function of the program. |
Web Browser | A program that allows a computer user to explore the Internet. |
Webcam | A small, inexpensive device that functions like a camera, with its images being sent over the Internet. |
Web page or Website | An individual site found on the Internet. |
Wide Area Network (WAN) | 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. |