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Computer Science and Technology Vocabulary
December 14, 2023
Computers are everywhere in our lives, so it's important to understand them at least a little. That's going to be even more true when you get older and need to get a job: Lots of jobs rely on computers. The study of computers and how they work is called computer science. Learning about how computers work can help you in a lot of ways, and not all of them are related to using computers. When you figure out how to make a computer do what you want it to do, you're problem-solving. Knowing how to solve problems is an important skill, whether you want to program a computer to do something for you or you just want to figure out how to solve a math problem, beat a level of a video game, or get from your home to a place you've never been before.
The words people use to talk about computer science can be confusing if you've never heard them before, but that shouldn't scare you away from learning more about how to use technology. Once you know what words like "hyperlink," "spam," and "motherboard" mean, you'll be more comfortable working with and learning about computers.
Basic Computer Terms
Click: A click is when you press a button on a computer mouse. It's named for the sound the button makes when you press it.
Cursor: The cursor usually looks like a small white arrow on your screen. You can move it around the screen by using a mouse or touch pad, and you can use it to press buttons and follow links by clicking the mouse button.
Double-Click: A double click is used to make a selection or interact with a program or document by clicking the mouse button quickly twice in a row.
Drag and Drop: Drag and drop is used to move objects on your screen. To do this, you click on the object with your mouse button and keep holding the button down, move the mouse to move the object to where you want it, and then let go of the mouse button.
Left Click: Pressing the left button on a mouse. This is the main mouse button you'll use for most things.
Right Click: Pressing the right button on a mouse. This button will usually open up a menu of things you can do.
Internet Vocabulary
Browser: A browser is a computer program people can use to browse the Internet.
Download: The process of copying data from somewhere else onto your computer
Email: Electronic mail sent through a network or over the Internet from one person to another. Email can contain text, pictures, or attached files.
Homepage: The front page of a website
Hyperlink: A hyperlink, also just called a link, is something that takes you to another page when you click on it. Links are usually attached to words, but they can be attached to pictures, too.
Internet: A global network of computers that lets people communicate with each another and share information anywhere at any time
Internet Service Provider: An internet service provider (ISP) is a company that gives you access to the Internet.
Network: A group of connected computers. The biggest example of a network is the Internet.
Online: Connected to an active network
Search Engine: A tool used to help people find information on the Internet
Social Media: A website or app where people can create a profile and share information and images with other people who they may or may not know.
Upload: Sending data from your computer to the Internet for others to use
Website: A page or group of pages related to a singular person, topic, or company on the Internet
Internet Safety
Cyberbullying: A form of online harassment that may include posting mean things about another person to hurt or bully them or sending unwanted emails or messages
Cybercrime: The theft or unauthorized viewing of people's private data
Digital Citizenship: The responsible, polite use of technology
Phishing: Scams in which people try to get you to give them your private information by pretending to be trusted people or companies
Spam: Junk messages sent out to lots of people at once
Virus: A computer program designed to steal, modify, or damage people's computers or personal information
Coding and Programming
Bug: A coding error
Code: The instructions given to a computer to make it work. Some types of code create software, while others make websites.
Command: A command is something that you tell a computer to do. Computer code is made up of commands.
Function: A section of code that performs a single task or routine
Program: A piece of software written in a coding language
Parts of a Computer
Computer Case: A box that holds all of the parts of a computer
Hard Disk Drive: The place where a computer stores information
Motherboard: A circuit board that connects all of the parts of a computer and lets them communicate with each other
Power Supply: What gives a computer power. The power supply takes AC power and converts it into DC power that the computer runs on.
Sound Card: A part of a computer that lets it produce sound. Without a sound card, you wouldn't be able to listen to music on a computer.
Video Card: A part of a computer that sends video information to your screen
