Basic Computer Terminology- B
B
Background: Part of the multitasking capability. A program can run and perform tasks in the background while another program is being used in the foreground.
Bit: It is the smallest piece of information used by the computer. Derived from "binary digit". In computer language, either One (1) or Zero (0).
Backup: A copy of a file or disk you make for archiving purpose.
Boot: To start up a computer.
Bug: A programming error that causes a program to behave in an unexpected way.
Bus: Bus is an electronic pathway through which data is transmitted between components in a computer.
Byte: A piece of computer information made up of eight bits.
Biff: A command to turn on asynchronous email notification on Unix systems.
Actually named after a dog at U.C. Berkeley, who would bark when mail was delivered. (The dog belonged to Heidi Stettner, validation of this from Eric Cooper.)
Bon: A programming language created by Ken Thompson and named after his wife Bonnie. However according to an encyclopedia quotation in Bon's manual, it was named after a religion (likely Tibetan) whose rituals involve the murmuring of magic formulas.
BASIC: In computer programming, BASIC (an acronym which stands for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a family of high-level programming languages designed to be easy to use.
Baud Rate: The speed at which data signals are sent and received by a modem.
The higher the baud rate the faster data is transferred.
Bold: A style of text that makes a letter or word darker and thicker to stand out in a document.
Bomb: A type of virus designed to activate at a specific date and time on your computer.
Browser: Software needed to be able to view information on the internet (See Internet Browser).
Button Bar or Toolbar: A horizontal strip of buttons near the top of a window which provides shortcuts for common commands. Some programs allow the user to hide or display the bar, and customize the buttons.
Buttons: A hot spot used in multimedia applications to navigate from one place to another or to activate elements such as sound and animation.
