Glossary

Application program

A software program designed to perform a specific task, such as a word processing or spreadsheet program.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standardized coding system for representing characters, such as numbers, letters, and graphic symbols. An ASCII character occupies one byte of storage. Files transmitted in ASCII code can be used by many different computers, printers, and programs.

Asynchronous

A method of data transmission in which one machine sends data one character at a time to another, without either machine preparing for the transmission.

Backup

An extra copy of a program, data file, or disk, kept in case your working copy is damaged or lost.

Batch file

A type of file that lets you execute a series of MS-DOS commands by typing one command. Batch files are text files with the filename extension .BAT.. In a batch file, each command is entered on a separate line. When you type the filename, all the commands in that file are executed sequentially.

Baud rate

A measure of the speed of data transmission. Usually equivalent to bits per second.

Bit

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

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