|
THE COMPUTER
|
Computers, like many other things, have given 'rise to their own terminology or jargon, and it is important to distinguish the special meaning of such terms from any more common meaning they may have. The following glossary may, therefore, be helpful for reference.
ADDRESS Computers store numbers and instructions in their store. The store is usually divided into locations each of which holds one number or instruction. Each of these locations is given a designation so that it can be referred to, no matter what number or instruction it happens to contain. This designation is often called the 'address' of the location.
CENTRAL PROCESSOR That part of the computer which does all the calculating.
FLOW DIAGRAM A diagram showing the essential steps in a calculation, in particular the various branches which may occur for different cases.
INSTRUCTION A step in a calculation expressed in the coded form required by the computer.
JUMP An instruction which can cause an alteration in the sequence in which the computer obeys instructions.
LANGUAGE Generally speaking different computers require their instructions to be expressed in different codes. The code applying to a particular computer is often called the 'language' of the computer.
LOCATION A part of the store. See also 'Address'.
MACHINE An alternative term for a computer.
ORDER An alternative term for an instruction.
PERIPHERAL UNITS Attachments i.e., input/output devices, which are connected to the central processor.
PROGRAM The set of instructions (expressed in a computer language) for a particular problem 'Programming' is the operation of writing these instructions.
REGISTER A permanent location in store set aside for the temporary storage of data.
STORE The part of the computer which holds all the instructions and the numbers being used.
WORD An arrangement of binary digits.