Bit

A binary digit (0 or 1). The smallest unit of computer storage. The value of a bit represents the presence (1) or absence (0) of an electric charge.

Boot

To load the operating system into the computer’s memory.

Byte

A sequence or group of eight bits that represents one character.

CGA

Color Graphics Adapter. A type of display adapter card that can generate up to 25 lines of text with 80 characters on each line, monochrome graphics at 640 x 200 resolution, or four-color graphics at 320 x 200 resolution.

Character

Anything that can be printed in a single space on the page or the screen; includes numbers, letters, punctuation marks, and graphic symbols.

CMOS

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. A method of making low-power silicon chips.

Code

A system of symbols for representing data or instructions. Also any software program or part of a program.

Code page

Atable that defines the country-specific or language-specific character set you are using.

Glossary 3