File

A group of related pieces of information called records, or entries, stored together on a disk. Text files consist of words and sentences. Program files consist of codes and are used by computers to interpret and carry out instructions.

Filename

A name up to eight characters long that MS-DOS uses to identify a file.

Fixed disk

See Hard disk.

Format

To prepare a new disk (or an old one you want to reuse) so that it can store information. Formatting divides a disk into tracks and sectors and creates addressable locations on it.

Graphics

Lines, angles, curves, and other nonalphanumeric data.

Hard disk

The enclosed unit used to store large amounts of data. Unlike a diskette, it is fixed in place. It can process data more rapidly and store many more files than a diskette. Also called fixed disk.

Hardware

Any physical component of a computer system, such as a monitor, printer, keyboard, or CPU.

8 G l o s s a r y