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Computing hardware 3

• Cache memory
  • This is a buffer of memoru in the processor that is used to store copies of items that are most often fetched from the memory, so that they can be fetched more quickly.
• Random access memory (RAM)
  • Memory that is used to store the programs and data currently in use by a computer. It is volatile, which means that it gets erased when the computer is switched off.
• Read-Only Memory (ROM)
  • Memory that is used to store programs permanently and in the same location, such as the boot-up program. This memory is non-volatile and is not deleted when the computer is switched off.
• Multi-tasking
  • A computer is mulititasking if it appears to be running more than one program at the same time.
• Flash memory
  • A technology for storing data in an electronic format which is used for memory cards.

Computing hardware 1

• Boot program
  • The program that is used to start the computer. It is automatically loaded so that its instructions can be fetched when the computer is turned on, and it eventually loads the operating system.
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
  • The main component of the computer. It carries out all the processing by fetching and executing instructions.
• Clock speed
  • The speed at which the processor carries out instructions, measured in Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz).
• Core
  • Each single processor circuit capable of fetching and executing instructions.
• Each single processor circuit capable of fetching and executing instructions.
  • Memory buffer on the processor that stores instructions which have been fetched before and allows them to be fetched more quickly the next time.
• Fetch–Execute cycle
  • The process by which programs are run on a computer. The processor repeatedly fetches the instructions of the program from memory and executes them.
• Multi-core processor
  • A processor with more than one core (processor circuit) which means it can fetch and execute more than one instruction at a time.

Handling data

• ASCII
  • American Standard Code for Information Interchange: a set of digital codes (numbers) widely used as a standard format for defining characters in a computer.
• Character
  • Data type that stores a single character
• String
  • Data type that stores a single character