Essential Computer and Software Terms: A Compendium

Posted on Nov 30, 2024 in Computers

Essential Computer and Software Terms

This document provides definitions for various computer and software terms, categorized for easy understanding.

Email & Internet

  • Arroba (@): Separates the username from the domain name in an email address.
  • Address (URL): A unique alphanumeric identifier for an internet resource.
  • Alias: A short, memorable name used in place of a longer one.
  • Browser: An application for displaying and navigating internet information.
  • Byte: Eight bits representing a character (e.g., the letter “a”).
  • Chat: Simultaneous online communication between two or more people.
  • Cookie: Data stored on a computer when accessing certain websites.
  • Hyperlink/Hypertext: Text or images linking to other documents or pages.
  • Log-in: Accessing a computer using a username and password.
  • Interface: The point of interaction between hardware/software components or a user and an application.

File & Data Management

  • Attachment: A file sent with an email.
  • Character: A single letter, number, or symbol.
  • File: Data stored on a disk in a structured manner.
  • Folder: A special file containing other files and folders.
  • Extension: The file type (e.g., .doc, .pdf).

Text & Document Formatting

  • Alignment: Text placement on the page.
  • Animation: Adding visual or sound effects to text or objects.
  • Bold, Italic, Underline: Font styles.
  • Character Spacing: Distance between characters.
  • Font Style: Formatting options like bold, italic, underline.
  • Header: Top area of a document, appearing on every page.
  • Line Style: Style of lines (solid, dotted, etc.).
  • Margin: White space between text and page edges.
  • Page Break: Forces text to start on a new page.
  • Section Break: Allows different design characteristics within a document.
  • Shaded: Background color or pattern.
  • Spacing: Space between lines and paragraphs.
  • Tabulated: Moving text to a set space, creating columns or indentations.

Spreadsheet Software

  • Cell: The intersection of a row and column in a spreadsheet.
  • Column: Labeled with letters (A, B, C…).
  • Constant: Data directly inserted into a cell (number, date, text).
  • Formula: Specifies a mathematical operation involving cells.
  • Function: A predefined formula in Excel.
  • Group: A collection of objects behaving as one.
  • Merge Cells: Combines selected cells into one.
  • Reference: Identifies a cell or cell range in a formula.
  • Range: A rectangular block of cells.
  • Row: A horizontal line of cells in a spreadsheet.
  • Spreadsheet: A grid of cells for data and calculations.
  • Table: A set of cells organized in rows and columns.

Presentation Software

  • PowerPoint: Microsoft Office presentation software.
  • Blank Presentation: A new presentation with minimal design.
  • Existing Presentation: A new presentation based on an existing one.
  • Slide: A single screen in a presentation.
  • Slide Transition: Special effects for displaying slides.
  • Template: A pre-designed presentation layout.
  • View: Displays presentation content.
  • WordArt: Advanced text formatting options.

Other Terms

  • Active Cell: The currently selected cell in a spreadsheet.
  • Animation Effects: Special effects for animations.
  • Assistant: A tool providing help with tasks.
  • AutoShapes: Predefined shapes for drawing.
  • AVI: Microsoft audio and video file format.
  • Clip-art: A library of images.
  • Command: An instruction given to the computer.
  • Context Menu: A popup menu appearing on right-click.
  • Copy-Paste: Copying and pasting content.
  • Cursor: Indicates the active position for text input.
  • Cut-and-Paste: Moving content by cutting and pasting.
  • Default: Preset values or settings.
  • Direct Access: An icon for easy program or file access.
  • Double-click: Pressing the mouse button twice quickly.
  • Draw Table: Tool for drawing tables.
  • e-: Abbreviation for electronics.
  • Edge: The area around an object.
  • Fill: Adding a background color or pattern.
  • Footnote: A short explanation or source citation.
  • Import: Bringing data from an external source.
  • Insertion Point: The cursor’s position for text insertion.
  • Justify: Even spacing between text margins.
  • Jumping: Changing a document’s layout.
  • Multimedia: A combination of text, images, sound, and video.
  • Object: A table, graph, equation, or other information element.
  • Office Assistant: A cartoon character providing help in Word.
  • Operands: Symbols identifying arithmetic elements in Excel.
  • Operators: Symbols specifying operations in a formula.
  • Paste: Placing clipboard content at the cursor position.
  • Print: Printing screen information.
  • Print Preview: Shows how a document will look when printed.
  • Redo: Repeating an undone action.
  • Right-click: Clicking the right mouse button.
  • Scrollbar: Allows navigation through a document not fully visible.
  • Selection Area: Area for selecting document parts.
  • Shrink to Fit: Reducing document length to fit one page.
  • Spelling & Grammar: Checks spelling and grammar.
  • Syntax: Rules governing operator organization.
  • Tab: Indentation or column creation.
  • Taskbar: Displays open windows and applications.
  • Text Area: Area for writing text.
  • Toolbar: A bar with icons and controls.
  • Undo: Reverses the last action.
  • Vignette: A form specifying list elements.
  • View: Displays document content.
  • Workbook: An Excel file.
  • WordArt: Tool for creating advanced text formatting.
  • Zoom: Changing document view size.