Delimiter

A character or space used to separate different parts of an MS-DOS command.

Device

A piece of equipment that is part of a computer system and performs a specific task, such as a disk drive, a monitor, or a printer.

Diagnostics

The tests and procedures the computer performs to check its internal circuitry and set up its configuration.

DIP switch

A small switch on a piece of hardware such as an option card or a printer that controls a particular function. DIP stands for Dual In-line Package.

Directory

A list of files stored in a particular area on a disk; part of a structure for organizing files into groups. A directory listing shows the name, location, and size of the files in the directory. A directory can contain both files and subdirectories.

Disk

The collective term for diskettes and hard disks.

Disk drive

The physical device that allows the computer to read from and write to a disk. A diskette drive has a disk slot into which you insert a diskette. A hard disk is sealed inside a protective unit.

Diskette

A flat piece of flexible plastic coated with magnetic material and used to store data permanently. Also called floppy disk.

Display adapter

The card that is installed in one of the computer’s option slots. The display adapter provides the interface to which you connect the monitor and controls the way the monitor displays text and graphics. Also known as video card.

Glossary 5