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 data permanently. 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.

Hexadecimal

Abase-16 numbering system frequently used by programmers. Any decimal number between 0 and 255 can be represented by a two-digit hexadecimal number.

High-density

A type of format that allows you to store more data than normal. A 3 ‘/z-inch high-density diskette can store 1.44 MB of data. A 5 l/4-inch high-density diskette can store 1.2 MB of data.

Input/output (I/O) port

See Port.

10 Glossary