What is a computer?

Binary - Binary is the language computers use. It is a series of 1s and 0s and is also used in mathematics.

Computer networks – the computers and connecting hardware (wifi access points, cables, fibres, switches and routers) that make it possible to transfer data using an agreed method (‘protocol’).

CPU - (Central Processing Unit) The microprocessor is the brain of the computer. It deals with inputs, thinks what to do with them, and then sends commands to the outputs of the computer.  It is very smart and fast at calculating things, most processors will deal with millions of instructions per second. But all that hard work makes them get hot (bad for computers!) so the CPU usually has its own fan and heatsink to help keep it cool. Other factors come into it as well, but a better, faster CPU will help your computer run faster and let it carry out more tasks at the same time.

Data – a structured set of numbers, representing digitised text, images, sound or video, which can be processed or transmitted by a computer.

Digital content – any media created, edited or viewed on a computer, such as text (including the hypertext of a web page), images, sound, video (including animation), or virtual environments, and combinations of these (i.e. multimedia).

Digital media - information that comes to us through the internet, often through a tablet, smartphone, or laptop

Firewall - A barrier created with hardware or software between a trusted system or network and outside connections, such as the Internet. However, a computer firewall is more of a filter than a wall, allowing trusted data to flow through it. It tries to reduce the amount of viruses, malicious software and hackers that can come into a network from the Internet.

GPU -  (Graphics Processing Unit), like the CPU it is a single-chip processor. The GPU is used for computing graphics (screen images). This includes things such as lighting effects, object transformations, and 3D motion. Because these types of calculations are rather taxing on the CPU, the GPU can help the computer run more efficiently by doing this work for it, especially if it’s part of an external graphics card (not built into the motherboard) as these can have their own RAM as well.

Hard drive - A drive on a computer that stores data. It houses the hard disk, where all your files and folders are physically located. A typical hard drive is only slightly larger than your hand, yet can hold huge amounts of data. 

Hardware - Any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the keyboard, monitor or mouse. It also includes all of the computer's internal parts. 

Input – data provided to a computer system, such as via a keyboard, mouse, microphone, camera or physical sensors. Information which is received by the computer from a keyboard, mouse or sensor e.g. pressing the left mouse button or space bar creates an input.

Internet – the global collection of computer networks and their connections, all using shared protocols (TCP/IP) to communicate.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) -  a company that lets you connect to the Internet via their system. They may filter unsuitable content or limit how much data can be sent at once (the bandwidth).

LAN - Stands for "Local Area Network" and is pronounced "lan." A LAN is a network of connected devices that exist within a specific location. LANs may be found in homes, offices, educational institutions, or other areas. A LAN may be wired, wireless, or a combination of the two. A standard wired LAN uses Ethernet cables to connect devices together. Wireless LANs are typically created using a Wi-Fi signal. If a router supports both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections, it can be used to create a LAN with both wired and wireless devices.

Network - A network consists of multiple devices that communicate with one another. It can be as small as two computers or as large as billions of devices. While a traditional network is comprised of desktop computers, modern networks may include laptops, tablets, smartphones, televisions, gaming consoles, smart appliances, and other electronics.

Operating system - Software that communicates with the hardware and allows other programs to run. It consists of system software, or the fundamental files your computer needs to boot up and function. Every desktop computer, tablet, and smartphone includes an operating system that provides basic functionality for the device. Common desktop and laptop operating systems are Microsoft Windows, Apple OS and Linux. Common mobile operating systems are Android and Apple’s iOS.

Output – the information produced by a computer system for its user, typically on a screen, through speakers or on a printer, but possibly through the control of motors in physical systems. Also an action performed by the computer e.g. switching on a light, moving a turtle or sprite across the screen.

Packet - A packet is a small amount of data sent over a network, such as a LAN or the Internet. Similar to a real-life package, each packet includes a source and destination as well as the content (or data) being transferred. When the packets reach their destination, they are reassembled into a single file or other contiguous block of data.

Processor - See ‘CPU’ above.

RAM -  This stands for Random Access Memory. It’s the computer’s short term memory where things can be held for very quick access. It remembers all immediate things the computer does and runs between the CPU and the Hard Drive but it forgets everything once the computer is shut down. Adding more RAM to your computer can have a big impact on speeding it up as the more RAM you have, the more data can be loaded from the hard drive into the RAM (for very fast access). When your RAM gets full your computer will slow down and sometimes freeze and crash.

Redundancy - duplicate devices that are used for backup purposes. The goal of redundancy is to prevent or recover from the failure of a specific component or system.

ROM = ROM stands for ‘Read Only Memory’. It is memory containing hardwired instructions that the computer uses when it boots up, before the system software (operating system) loads. In PCs, the instructions are read from a small program in the ROM, called the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). This data still remains even when the computer is shut down or unplugged as it has its own small battery built into the system.

Router - A box that connects a home, business or school network to the internet, acting as a junction point. There are millions of routers across the world. 

Save - To store a piece of work in a computer’s memory so that it can be recalled at a later time. 

Server - A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a network. Schools and many businesses will have a file server that pupils and employees can use to store and share files. A server can look like a regular desktop computer, or it can be much larger. 

Services – programs running on computers, typically those connected to the internet, which provide functionality in response to requests; for example, to transmit a web page, deliver an email or allow a text, voice or video conversation.

Software – computer programs, including both application software (such as office programs, web browsers, media editors and games) and the computer operating system. The term also applies to ‘apps’ running on mobile devices and to web-based services.

Switch - A box that switches data from one computer to another. All wired computers on a network connect back to the switch. 

WAN - A ‘wide area network’ is not limited to a single area, but spans multiple locations. WANs are often comprised of multiple LANs that are connected over the Internet. A company WAN, for example, may extend from the headquarters to other offices around the world. Access to WANs may be limited using authentication, firewalls, and other security measures. The Internet itself is the largest WAN since it encompasses all locations connected to the Internet.

Wireless Access Point (WAP) - A box that takes data from a wired network and converts it into wireless signals. 

Wireless Network - Signals that pass through the air from the wireless access point to laptops, tablets, smartphones or other wireless enabled devices.

Web browser - A web browser, or simply "browser," is an application used to access and view websites. Common web browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari.

Wired Network - These are wires that go from the switch to every wired computer. These are typically much faster than wireless connections and are usually ethernet cables. 

World Wide Web – a service provided by computers connected to the internet (web servers), in which pages of hypertext (web pages) are transmitted to users; the pages typically include links to other web pages and may be generated by programs automatically.