Glossary-10

liquid crystal display (LCD) – A type of display that uses chemicals, or liquid crystals, that respond to polarized light and electrical signals. A notebook computer has a liquid crystal display.

listserv – See mailing list.

local area network (LAN) – Two or more computers linked together for the purpose of sharing resources, such as files, programs, or printers. A local area network is usually contained within a single building. Contrast wide area network.

log on – To gain authorized access to a network or Internet service provider account by providing a user name and password.

mailing list – A mail forwarding service that allows subscribers to send e-mail to a single address where the message is copied and sent to all subscribers to that particular list.

maillist – See mailing list.

MB – See megabyte.

Mbps – See megabits per second.

megabits per second (Mbps) – A unit of measurement used to describe the rate of data transfer.

megabyte (MB) – A unit of measurement used to describe data quantity. One MB is equal to approximately one million bytes. See byte.

megahertz (MHz) – A unit of measurement used to describe microprocessor speed. One megahertz is equal to one million hertz, or one million cycles per second. See hertz.

memory – The place where data and instructions are stored for use by the processor. There are several different types of memory that include the following:

•random-access memory (RAM) – The space where programs and data are stored as they are used.

•read-only memory (ROM) – The space where data needed to run the computer is stored. The computer can access but not change this data.

•virtual memory – The use of hard disk file space to extend the capability of random-access memory.

MHz – See megahertz.