Microsoft
`
`Computer
`meet|8)
`
`Fifth Edition
`
`software, the Internet, and more!
`
`Fully updated with the latest
`technologies, terms, and acronyms
`Easyto read, expertlyillustrated
`Definitive coverage of hardware,
`
`0001
`0001
`
`Facebook Ex. 1010
`USS. Pat. 8,995,433
`
`Facebook Ex. 1010
`U.S. Pat. 8,995,433
`
`

`

`OVER
`sone]elee
`
`Soh ll pad
`
`Microsoft
`
`software, the Internet, and more!
`
`omputer
`Dictionary
`
`mite Edition
`
`Fully updated with the latest
`technologies, terms, and acronyms
`Easy to read, expertly illustrated
`Definitive coverage of hardware,
`
`0002
`
`

`

`PUBLISHED BY
`Microsoft Press
`A Division of Microsoft Corporation
`One Microsoft Way
`Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
`
`Copyright © 2002 by Microsoft Corporation
`
`Allrights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
`or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`Microsoft Computer Dictionary.--5th ed.
`p- cm.
`ISBN 0-7356-1495-4
`1. Computers--Dictionaries.
`
`2. Microcomputers--Dictionaries.
`
`AQ76.5. M52267
`004'.03--de21
`
`2002
`
`200219714
`
`Printed and bound in the United States of America.
`
`23456789 QWT 765432
`
`Distributed in Canada by H.B. Fenn and Company Ltd.
`
`A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
`
`Microsoft Press books are available through booksellers and distributors worldwide. For further informa-
`tion about international editions, contact your local Microsoft Corporation office or contact Microsoft
`Press International directly at fax (425) 936-7329. Visit our Web site at www.microsoft.com/mspress.
`Send comments to mspinput @microsojt.com.
`
`Active Desktop, Active Directory, ActiveMovie, ActiveStore, ActiveSync, ActiveX, Authenticode,
`BackOffice, BizTalk, ClearType, Direct3D, DirectAnimation, DirectDraw, DirectInput, DirectMusic,
`DirectPlay, DirectShow, DirectSound, DirectX, Entourage, FoxPro, FrontPage, Hotmail, IntelliEye,
`IntelliMouse, IntelliSense, JScript, MapPoint, Microsoft, Microsoft Press, Mobile Explorer, MS-DOS,
`MSN, Music Central, NetMeeting, Outlook, PhotoDraw, PowerPoint, SharePoint, UltimateTV, Visio,
`Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual FoxPro, Visual InterDev, Visual J++, Visual SourceSafe, Visual Studio,
`Win32, Win32s, Windows, Windows Media, Windows NT, Xbox are either registered trademarks or
`trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and
`company names mentioned herein may be the trademarksof their respective owners.
`
`The example companies, organizations, products, domain names, e-mail addresses, logos, people, places,
`and events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product,
`domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, place, or event is intended or should be inferred.
`
`Acquisitions Editor: Alex Blanton
`Project Editor: Sandra Haynes
`
`Body Part No. X08-41929
`
`0003
`0003
`
`

`

`Contributors
`
`Peter Aiken
`
`Bart Arenson
`
`Janice Borzendowski
`
`Jerome Colburn
`
`Duane Hanson
`
`Andrew Himes
`
`Robert Howecton
`
`Annette B. Jackson
`
`Larry S. Jackson
`ThomasA. Jackson
`
`Chris Kinata
`
`llana Kingsley
`Robin Lombard
`
`Thomas A. Long
`William G. Madison
`
`Illustrators
`
`Travis Beaven
`
`David Holter
`
`Alton Lawson
`
`Thomas P. Magliery
`David Mason
`
`Terrence M. McLaren
`
`Wallace Parker
`
`Charles Petzold
`
`Phil Rose
`
`John Ross
`
`David Rygmyr
`Aimée Truchard
`
`Michael Vose
`
`Bruce Webster
`
`Judson D. Weeks
`
`Tom Winn
`
`JoAnne Woodcock
`
`Rob Nance
`
`Joel Panchot
`
`0004
`
`

`

`00050005
`
`

`

`Contents
`
`TNPOGUCHON 21.2 & ¥ & 1.5% b5k BLE WY YR AOE LOT MS UE OY Se RL SeA vin
`
`Changes in the Fifth EdW1OR.0 nnn ene nn nr nnn tnt Eee VE
`Order of Presentation... 000 ee en ne nen eee ene e eens vit
`TEDTIIES seins ces see sapcety vows nase Dei swan 48 HL uni
`oIRSRY DRO rte Dee aa ul
`SEY USN Oley Poem Gee Gay oe) Oey aimee aeaeE Dee oeier oti vit
`
`TUTE ANTES AEGULONS sce asc 1 a8: ayees ores pan pRB ak © an Smee BER UREN UIST omEY aN BEL aN BME BAY one ae a om 9 ix
`
`Dictionary of Computer Terms...........022.d
`
`Appendix A:
`Common Character S€lSemsn «aes «+00 sane eee 64 eK cEMNOIE an REA a ERROR ERR RE SOORED 587
`ANS] Character Set. « ous «2 x smn +
`0 swues =
`3 inn ¥
`x
`4 SEEN R= HEE © EGE Fm HOR So SEEN mR vee =
`= EOeR 587
`
`Apple-Macintosh.Extended: Character Set, «wos 2a 0 seve ae penis ey woes awe dot mR EEE we ae Se RN 593
`IBM Exteided.haiacter Set weg 2
`» eure 2p eeS 8 OPES &
`§ OR 8 SPS Fo 2 RR 597
`
`EBCDIC Character Set 2...et ete n ee tenet ene nenenee 599
`
`Appendix B:
`Common File Extensions... 02.0.0... 0.ee ene eee n en enes 605
`
`Appendix C:
`Instant Messaging Emoticons and Acronyms ........... 0.0.0.0 ce eee eee eee 613
`
`Appendix D:
`Internet Domains .. 2... eee eee eee eee eee bees 623
`
`Appendix E:
`Numeric Equivalents! s scoe< «925 =2 45 fee ee nL Eee ee a ee od wee 8 be cw 631
`
`0006
`0006
`
`

`

`double-dereference
`
`downstream
`
`data. Double-density disks increased that capacity to 360
`KB. Double-density disks use modified frequency modu-
`lation encoding for storing data. See also floppy disk,
`thicrofloppy disk, modified frequency modulation
`encoding. Compare high-density disk.
`double-dereference vi. To dereference a pointer that is
`pointed to by another pointer; in other words, to access the
`information pointed to by a handle. See alse dereference,
`handle (definition 1), pointer (definition 1).
`double leap year #. The mistaken idea that the year 2000
`would have two leap days—February 29 and February
`30—instead of one. In actuality, there was a potential leap
`year problem in 2000, but it was based on three rules for
`calculating leap years: (1) A year is a leap year if itis
`divisible by 4, but (2) notifitis divisible by 100, unless (3)
`itis also divisible by 400. Thus, 1900 was not a leap year,
`but 2000 is, although systems based on incorrect algo-
`rithms may not recognize it as a leap year and so may have
`difficulties functioning correctly after February 28, 2000,
`
`double posting nx. In newsgroup discussions, the practice
`of replying to one’s own posts. Because it may be seen as
`the digital equivalent to talking to one’s self, double post-
`ing is considered an undesirable practice.
`double-precision adj. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic
`of a numberstored in twice the amount (two words—typi-
`cally 8 bytes) of computer memory that is required for
`storing a less precise (single-precision) number. Double-
`precision numbers are commonly handled by a computer
`in floating-point form. See aise floating-point number.
`Compare single-precision.
`
`double-sided disk n. A floppy disk that can hold data on
`both its top and bottom surfaces.
`double slash n. See //.
`
`double-strike #. On an impact printer, such as a daisy-
`wheelprinter, the process of printing twice over a word, pro-
`ducing text that appears darker and heavier, or bolder, than it
`normally appears. On dot-matrix printers, double striking
`with a slight offset can be usedto fillin the space between
`the dots, producing smoother and darker characters.
`double supertwist nematie display 7. See supertwist
`display.
`double word x. A unit of data consisting of two contigu-
`ous words (connected bytes, not text) that are handled
`together by a computer’s microprocessor.
`
`doubly IInkedIIst #. A series of nodes (items represent-
`ing discrete segments of information) in which each node
`tefers to both the next node and the preceding node.
`Because of these two-way references, a doubly linked list
`can be traversed both forward and backward, rather than in
`a forward direction only, as with a singly linked list.
`
`down adj. Not functioning, in reference to computers,
`printers, communications lines on networks, and other
`such hardware.
`
`downflow ». One of the four stages of the data warehous-
`ing process, during which stored information is delivered
`and archived. See alse data warehouse”. Compare inflow,
`metaflow, upflow.
`downlink #. The transmission of data from a communica-
`tions satellite to an earth station.
`
`download v2. 1. In communications, to transfer a copy of
`a file froma remote computer to the requesting computer
`by means of a modem or network. 2. To send a block of
`data, such as a PostScript file, to a dependent device, such
`as a PostScript printer. Compare upload.
`downloadable font #. A set of characters stored on disk
`and sent (downloaded) to a printer’s memory when needed
`for printing a document. Downloadable fonts are most
`commonly used with laser printers and other page printers,
`although many dot-matrix printers can accept some of
`them. Alse called: soft font.
`
`Downloadable Sounds x. A standard for synthesizing
`wave sounds from digital samples stored in software. The
`DLSlevel 1 and level 2 standards are published by the
`MIDI Manufacturers Association, Acronym: DLS.
`
`downsample #. To decrease the number of audio samples
`or pixels, by applying an operation such as averaging.
`Popular internet music formats, such as MP3, use down-
`sampling to reduce file size.
`downsizing ». In computing, the practice of moving from
`larger computer systems, such as mainframes and mini-
`computers, to smaller systems in an organization, gener-
`ally to save costs and to update to newer software. The
`smaller systems are usually client/server systems com-
`posed of a combination of PCs, workstations, and some
`legacy system such as a mainframe, connected in one or
`mote local area networks or wide area networks. See also
`client/server architecture, legacy system.
`
`downstream? 7. The direction in which information,
`such as a news feed for a newsgroup or data from an http
`
`175
`
`0007
`0007
`
`

`

`Li cache n#. A memory cache built into i486 and higher-
`level processors to help improve processing speed. The L1
`cache, typically containing 8 KB, can be read ina single
`clock cycle, so it is tried first. The i486 contains one L1
`cache; the Pentium contains two, one for code and one for
`data. Also called: level 1 cache, on-chip cache. See also
`cache, i486DX, Pentium. Compare L2 cache.
`L2 cache n. A memory cache consisting of static RAM
`ona motherboard that uses an i486 or higher-level proces-
`sor. The L2 cache, which typically contains 128 KB to 1
`MB, isfaster than the system DRAM but slower than the
`L1 cache built into the CPU chip. Also called: level 2
`cache. See also cache, dynamic RAM,i486DX,static
`RAM. Compare L1 cache.
`L2TP x. See Layer Two Tunneling Protocol.
`L8R adv. Abbreviation for later, as in “See you later,’ an
`expression often used in e-mail or Usenet groups as a clos-
`ing temark.
`
`label #. An identifier. A label can be a physical item, such
`as astick-on tag used to identify disks and other computer
`equipment, or an electronic label added to floppy disks or
`hard disks. It can also be a word, symbol, or other group of
`characters used to identify a file, a storage medium, an
`element defined in a computer program,or a specific item
`in a document such as a spreadsheet or a chart. See alse
`identifier.
`
`label edge router 2. See MPLS.
`
`label prefix #. In a spreadsheet, a character at the begin-
`ning of a cell entry that identifies the entry to the program
`as a label.
`
`label switching ». See MPLS.
`
`label switch path #. See MPLS.
`label switch router 7. See MPLS.
`
`LACP nv, Acronym for Link Aggregation Control Proto-
`col. See link aggregation.
`lag n. The time difference between two events. In elec-
`tronics, a lag is a delay between a change in input anda
`change in output, On computer displays, a lag is a fading
`
`brightness left on the phosphor coating of the screen after
`an image changes. See also persistence.
`
`LAN #. Acronym for local area network. A group of com-
`puters and other devices dispersed over a relatively limited
`area and connected by a communications link that enables
`any device to interact with any other on the network.
`LANs commonly include PCs and shared resources such
`as laser printers and large hard disks. The devices on a
`LANate known as nodes, and the nodes are connected by
`cables through which messages are transmitted. See also
`baseband network, broadband network, bus network, cli-
`ent/server architecture, collision detection, communica-
`tions protocol, contention, CSMA/CD,network, peer-to-
`peer architecture, ring network, star network. Compare
`WAN.
`
`landscape mode x. A horizontal print orientation in
`which text or images are printed “sideways”—thatis, the
`width of the image on the page is greater than the height.
`Compare portrait mode.
`landscape monitor #. A monitor that is wider than it is
`high. Landscape monitors are usually about 33 percent
`wider than they are high—toughly the same proportion as
`a television screen. Compare full-page display, portrait
`monitor.
`
`LANE x. Acronym for LAN Emulation, See ATM (defini-
`tion 1), communications protocol, LAN.
`
`LANGID n. See language identifier.
`language n. See programming language.
`
`language-description language n. See metalanguage.
`language Identlfler 7. A standard international numeric
`abbreviation for a country or geographical region. A lan-
`guage identifier is a 16-bit value that consists of a primary
`language identifier and a secondary language identifier.
`Acronym: LANGID. See alse locale identifier.
`language processor x. A hardware device or a software
`program designed to accept instructions written in a par-
`ticular language and translate them into machine code. See
`alse compiler (definition 2), interpreter.
`
`0008
`0008
`
`

`

`Packet Internet Groper
`
`page banner
`
`source and destination addresses and control and timing
`information, that is needed for successful transmission.
`
`Packet Internet Groper 1. See ping! (definition 1).
`packet sniffer x. A hardware and/or software device that
`examines every packet sent across a network. To work, a
`packet sniffer must be installed in the same network block
`as the network it is intended to sniff. Designed as a prob-
`lem-solving tool to isolate problems degrading network
`performance, packet sniffers have become security risks
`on some networks because crackers can use them to cap-
`tute nonencrypted user IDs, passwords, credit card num-
`bers, e-mail addresses, and other confidential information.
`See also cracker, packet. Compare monitoring software.
`packet switching x. A message-delivery technique in
`which small units of information (packets) are relayed
`through stations in a computer network along the best
`toute available between the source and the destination. A
`packet-switching network handles information in small
`units, breaking long messages into multiple packets before
`routing. Although each packet maytravel along a different
`path, and the packets composing a message may arrive at
`different times or out of sequence, the receiving computer
`reassembles the original message correctly. Packet-
`switching networks are considered to be fast and efficient.
`To manage the tasks of routing traffic and assembling/dis-
`assembling packets, such a network requires some intelli-
`gence from the computers and software that control
`delivery. The Internet is an example of a packet-switching
`network. Standards for packet switching on networks ate
`documented in the International Telecommunication
`
`Union (ITU) recommendation X.25. Compare circuit
`switching.
`Packet Switching Exchange x. An intermediary
`switching station in a packet-switching network.
`
`packettraller #. The portion ofa data packet that follows
`the body (data). The trailer typically contains information
`telated to error checking and correction. See also packet.
`
`packing density #. The numberof storage units per
`length or area of a storage device. Bits per inch is one
`measute of packing density.
`PacklT ». A file format used on the Apple Macintosh to
`tepresent collections of Macfiles, possibly Huffman com-
`pressed. See also Huffman coding, Macintosh.
`PAD n. See packet assembler/disassembler.
`
`pad character 1. In data input and storage, an extra chat-
`acter inserted asfiller to use up surplus space in a predefined
`block of a specified length, such as a fixed-length field.
`padding a. In data storage, the addition of one or more
`bits, usually zeros, to a block of data to fillit, to force the
`actual data bits into a certain position, or to prevent the
`data from duplicating a bit pattern that has an established
`meaning, such as an embedded command.
`paddle #. An early type of input device often used with
`computer games especially for side-to-side or up-and-
`down movements of an on-screen object. A paddle is less
`sophisticated than a joystick because it permits the user,
`by turning a dial, to specify movementalong only a single
`axis. The paddle got its name because its most popular use
`was to control the on-screen paddles in the simple early
`video games, such as Pong. See theillustration.
`
`
`
`Paddfe.
`
`paddle switch n. Any switch that has a wide handle. The
`large on/off switch on many IBM personal computers is
`one type of paddle switch.
`
`page n. 1. In word processing, the text and display ele-
`ments to be printed on one side of a sheet of paper, subject
`to formatting specifications such as depth, margin size,
`and number of columns. 2. A fixed-size block of memory.
`When used in the context of a paging memory system, a
`page is a block of memory whose physical address can be
`changed via mapping hardware. See also EMS, memory
`Management unit, virtual memory. 3. In computer graph-
`ics, a portion of display memory that contains one com-
`plete full-screen image; the internal representation of a
`screenful of information. 4. See Web page.
`
`page banner n. A section of a Web page containing a
`graphic element and text, such as the page title. Page ban-
`ners are usually displayed at the top of a Web page. Page
`banners can also be used to link to other Web sites for
`advertising purposes. Also called: banner.
`
`386
`
`0009
`0009
`
`

`

`quarter-inch cartridge
`
`quicksort
`
`Because each quantum bit—called a qubit—tepresents
`taultiple values, a quantum computer can be in multiple
`states simultaneously and can thus work on numerous
`problems at the same time to offer far more computing
`power than is currently available. Quantum computing is
`under investigation by the United States Defense
`Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and other
`groups. Although atoms of hydrogen and carbon have
`been used to create the rudiments of a quantum computer,
`the technology is still in its infaney.
`quarter-Inch cartridge nv. See QIC (definition 1).
`
`Quartz x. The 2-D drawing engine that forms the imaging
`foundation of the Mac OS X Aquainterface. The Quartz
`graphics application programming interface (API) is based
`on Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF) standard.
`
`quartz crystal 7. A precisely shaped and precisely sized
`piece of the mineral quartz, used for its piezoelectric prop-
`erties. When a voltage is applied to a quartz crystal, it
`vibrates at a frequency determined by its size and shape.
`Quartz crystals are commonly used to control the fre-
`quency of oscillator circuits such as the clocks in micro-
`computers. See alse piezoelectric.
`quasl-language n. A derogatory term for any program-
`ming language that, because of deficiencies, is not suitable
`for any serious work.
`
`qublt 2. Short for quantum bit. The bits (currently,
`atomic particles) that make up the theoretical machines
`known as quantum computers. Qubits are unlike bits in
`current computers in that they exist in more than one state
`al the same time. They can, therefore, represent both 0 and
`1 simultaneously. Qubits, like quantum computers, are
`based on the science of quantum mechanics.
`
`query? 2, A specific set of instructions for extracting par-
`ticular data.
`
`query? vb. To extract data from a database and presentit
`for use.
`
`query by example x. A simple-to-use query language
`implemented on several relational database management
`systems. Using query by example, the user specifies fields
`to be displayed, intertable linkages, and retrieval criteria
`directly onto forms displayed on the screen. These forms
`are a direct pictorial representation of the table and row
`structures that make up the database. Thus, the construc-
`tion of a query becomes a simple “checkoff’ procedure
`from the viewpoint of the user. Acronym: QBE.
`
`query language #. A subset of the data manipulation lan-
`guage; specifically, that portion relating to the retrieval
`and display of data froma database. Itis sometimes used
`loosely to refer to the entire data manipulation language.
`See also data manipulation language.
`question mark #. See ?.
`
`queue? n. A multi-elementdata structure from which (by
`strict definition) elements can be removed only in the
`same order in which they were inserted, that is, it follows
`a first in, first out (FIFO) constraint. There are also several
`types of queues in which removal is based on factors other
`than order of insertion—for example, some priority value
`assigned to each element. See also deque, element (defini-
`tion 1). Compare stack.
`
`queue? vb. To place (an item) in a queue.
`queued access method n. A programming technique
`that minimizes input/output delays by synchronizing the
`transfer of information between the program and the com-
`puter’s input and output devices. Acronym: QAM.
`
`queulng x. In networking, the process of buffering data in
`preparation for transmission. See alse fair queuing,first
`in, first out; last in, first out, weighted fair queuing.
`
`QuickDraw #. On the Apple Macintosh, the built-in group
`of routines within the operating system that controls the
`display of graphics and text. Application programs call
`QuickDraw for on-screen displays. See also Toolbox.
`
`QuickDraw 3-D x. A version of the Macintosh Quick-
`Draw library that includes routines for doing 3-D graphics
`calculations. See also QuickDraw.
`
`Quicken #. Financial-management software from Intuit,
`Inc. The personal-finance version, introduced by Intuit in
`1984, includes tools for balancing and tracking bank
`accounts and investments, budgeting, paying bills, plan-
`ning and preparing tax returns, financial planning, and
`estate planning. A small-business version, Quicken Home
`& Business, adds tools for business-related matters, such
`as invoicing and accounts receivable and payable.
`quicksort ». An efficient sort algorithm, described by
`C.A.R. Hoare in 1962, in which the essential strategy is to
`“divide and conquer.” A quicksort begins by scanning the
`list to be sorted for a median value. This value, called the
`pivot, is then movedto its final position in the list. Next,
`all items in the list whose values are less than the pivot
`value ate moved to one side ofthe list, and the items with
`values greater than the pivot value are movedto the other
`
`433
`
`0010
`0010
`
`