Topic 01 Glossary

Reference

Key terms in one place

Use the glossary to distinguish hardware, software, network and system-thinking concepts.

Term	Meaning
Computer system	A connected combination of hardware, software, data, users and procedures serving a purpose.
Hardware	Physical components of a computing system.
Software	Instructions and programs executed by hardware.
CPU	The processor that executes instructions and coordinates operations.
Register	Very small, fast storage used directly by the CPU.
Cache	Fast memory holding frequently required instructions and data.
RAM	Volatile memory used by active programs.
Storage	Persistent retention of files and applications.
Operating system	System software that manages resources and common services.
Driver	Software enabling an operating system to control a device.
Firmware	Low-level software stored within a device.
Process	A program currently being executed.
Client	A device or application requesting a service.
Server	A system providing data or functionality.
Network	Connected devices that exchange information or resources.
Cloud service	Remote computing or storage accessed through a network.
System boundary	The distinction between the system and its environment.
Feedback	Information about a result used to guide the next action.
Bottleneck	A constraint limiting overall system performance.
Authentication	Verification of a user or system identity.
Backup	A recoverable copy of important information.
Information Technology (IT)	Hardware, software, storage and networks used to create, process, store and exchange information.
ICT	Information technology with explicit emphasis on digital communication and connectivity.
Information system	A socio-technical system combining people, processes, data and technology for operations and decisions.
World Wide Web	A service of linked resources accessed through the Internet using web protocols.
DNS	A distributed system that maps domain names to network addresses.
Virtualisation	The abstraction of physical resources into isolated software-defined computing environments.
Internet of Things	Connected sensors, devices and actuators that exchange operational data.
Edge computing	Processing located near a data source to reduce latency and unnecessary network transfer.