Operating system

A collection of programs that allow a computer to control its operations. The operating system determines how programs run on the computer and supervises all input and output. Your computer comes with MS-DOS, the operating system by Microsoft.

Option card

A circuit board that you install inside your computer’s main unit to provide additional capabilities, such as more memory or an internal modem.

Parallel

The type of interface that transmits data in groups of bits. See also Interface and serial.

Parameter

A qualifier added to a command that tells the computer what particular conditions to look for.

Parity

Data signals sent during communications to detect errors in transmitting or receiving data.

Partition

To divide a hard disk drive into separate sections for use by different operating systems.

Pathname

The list of directories and subdirectories the computer must search through to locate a file. For example, the pathname for a file named CONTRACT that is located in the BUSINESS subdirectory of the root directory (1) is \BUSINESSCONTRACT.

Peripheral

A device (such as a printer or a modem) connected to a computer that depends on the computer for its operation.

Port

An input/output socket on a computer to which you can connect a peripheral device.

GL-8Glossary