The document provides a glossary of essential computer science terms for beginners to help them engage in conversations within the field. It includes definitions for 25 key terms, such as bandwidth, cloud storage, and CPU, aimed at boosting the reader's confidence and knowledge ahead of their studies. The guide encourages learners to familiarize themselves with technical jargon to better understand and participate in their computer science classes.

1. Computer Science Terms Need To know About
Have you ever spent time with a group of computers or IT
professionals talking about the store? Terms like "LAN",
"RAM" and "bandwidth" entered the conversation and you had
no idea what that meant. It can be a little intimidating to hear
all that tech jargon thrown around. But don't let a small
language barrier stop you from enrolling in
computer science terms
.
Just because you're new to the game doesn't mean you need to
be left out of the conversation. With a little preparation, you
can impress your classmates on the first day of school with your
computer know-how.
To get you started, we've compiled this basic list of computer
terms you should decode before setting foot in class. Brush up
on this common vocabulary and you'll be up to speed with your
tech friends' conversations in no time.
25 computer terms you need to know
Each industry has its own jargon, and computing is no
exception. Become familiar with these 25 computer terms to
impress your classmates and teachers from day one.
1. Analog
Analog technology is any part of the technology that does its
job without processing numbers electronically like a computer
does. You might think of analog as "old school" technology,
like movie cameras or tape recorders.

2. 2. Bandwidth
This term refers to the amount of information that can be
transmitted or processed, wirelessly or over a wired connection.
Internet services will advertise high speeds measured in
bandwidth, so it is a well known component of the IT world.
3. Big data
Big data is a quick way to refer to the huge amounts of data that
companies collect on a daily basis. Businesses face a number of
big data management challenges, especially when it comes to
analytics and security.
4. Bit
Bit stands for "binary binary", the smallest piece of information
used by a computer. Each piece is 1 or 0, which are binary
numbers that make up a computer language. Pieces are literally
the foundation on which computing is built. Because they are so
small, computer wizards require basic technology to think of
pieces on a larger scale:
Byte = 8 beats
Kilobytes = 1024 bytes
Megabytes = 1024 kilobytes
Gigabytes = 1024 megabytes
5. Bugs
A bug is a programming error that causes wisdom or unexpected
problems for the end user of a program.

3. 6. Cloud storage
Cloud storage is another way to store data in the physical
memory of a computer. Information stored "in the cloud" is
stored on remote servers that can be accessed anywhere over the
Internet.
7. Code
Code refers to various programming languages used to create,
modify or manage computer programs or applications. Most
computer science students specialize in a handful of
programming languages depending on the career they would like
to pursue.
8. Control panel
Just as it sounds, the control panel is a tool that allows you to
change or modify the program's settings as it looks or behaves.
9. CPU
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, which is a processing
chip and "brain" of the computer.
10. Data security
This is the process of protecting data from unauthorized users
or hackers.
11. Debug
Debugging refers to the process of finding and removing errors
from the source code of a program. The goal is for programmers
to discover and fix bugs before their end user has problems.

4. 12. Digital
Digital technology is the opposite of analog. It is anything that
uses a computer's binary language to do its job. Digitizing
something means converting analog data into digital data that
can be used by a computer.
13. Archiving to disk
Disk storage refers to your computer hard drive or long-term
memory. This is where a computer stores information that is not
being used at that time. If disk storage becomes too full, a
computer could slow down as it takes some time to wade
through all that data.
14. Ethernet
Ethernet is similar to the Internet. It is a system that connects
multiple computers or devices to the same network, enabling
fast and monitored data transmission. Ethereal networks have
limited network access managed by a handful of sysadmins,
making it a secure networking solution for many businesses.
15. Hacker
This term can refer to an experienced programmer. But the most
common use refers to someone who can gain unauthorized
access to, or "hack into," other computers or networks. IT
specialists can get the qualifications to become a certified
ethical hacker.
16. HTML
HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. HTML is a
coding language used to write Internet-based documents, such

5. as websites. It is one of the basic programming languages that
you will most likely learn early in your computer career.
17. Hub
This device is a central connection for all computers on a
network, which is generally based on Ethernet. Information sent
to the hub can go to any other computer on the network.
18. Index
An index is a list of data, such as a group of files or database
entries. It is usually saved in a plain text format so that a
computer can quickly scan it to retrieve the information it
needs.
19. IP address
Also known as "IP number" or simply "IP", it is a numerical
code that identifies a specific computer on the Internet. Think
of it as the unique social security number of a computer.
20. LAN
LAN stands for "Local Area Network". It is a small network of
computers, often located in a room. (Think of your high school
or college computer lab.)
21. Plain text
Plain text that does not support italics, underlines, bold
characters, fonts, or font sizes.
22. Processor
Also known as a microprocessor, this little chip is the heart of a

6. computer. The processor does all the calculations for the
computer, which means that it is responsible for every bit of
input and output that comes from the computer. Speed matters
when it comes to processors, and many can handle trillions of
calculations per second.
23. RAM
This is an acronym for Random-Access Memory, the place
where a computer stores data while it is being used or modified.
Think of it like the short-term memory of a computer. It does
not have unlimited storage, but it allows quick access to the
information you are currently using.
24. ROM
ROM stands for read-only memory. This is memory that can
only be read and cannot be written. Computers use ROM to
store important tasks such as startup processes and software
instructions.
25. Loadware
Vaporware is software advertised and sold from time to time but
not yet available. Sometimes the company is still fine-tuning
before launching a Steam software product. In some cases, a
company knows that a product doesn't exist (or won't exist for
years), but uses marketing tricks to measure interest.
Take your computing knowledge to the next level
Now that you are ready to impress these
computer science
terms, you can continue the essential conversation in the first
few courses. Most of the curriculum covers most of this
vocabulary so you can get one step ahead of your classmates.

7. However, not all degree programs are created equal. Find out
how our program stands out in our article: 10 Things You Didn't
Know About Rasmussen College Computer Science Programs.