Parameter

A qualifier added to a command that tells your operating system what data to process, where it should locate or store a file, or how it should operate. See also Stitch.

Parity

A method used to verify the accuracy of data transmissions by making the total of the number of l’s in a group of bits odd (odd parity), even (even parity), or none (no parity).

Partition

(1)The area an operating system defines on a hard disk so you can use that area as though it were a physically separate device;

(2)to divide a hard disk into separate logical areas. You can create a primary partition and one or more extended partitions on a hard disk.

Password

The unique sequence of characters you type after you turn on or reset the computer in order to access and use your system. In a computer network, a password may also set certain access privileges to restrict the operations you can perform.

Pathname

The directory name(s) you specify to locate a file. For example, the pathname for the file SALES, stored in the subdirectory BUSINESS, is \BUSINESS\SALES.

Peripheral device

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

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