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Glossary
231
F
file—A collection of related information, saved on disk with a unique
name. A file may be a program, information used by a program, or a
document. See also document.
File Allocation Table (FAT)—The section of a storage drive that keeps
track of the location of stored files.
file name—A set of characters that uniquely identifies a file within a
particular folder. It consists of two parts: the actual name and the file
name extension. See also file extension.
file extension—The three characters following the period (pronounced
“dot”) at the end of a file name. The extension indicates the type of
file. Examples are .exe for program files and .hlp for help files. See
also file name.
folder—Also called directory. A container for organizing files saved to a
disk. A folder is symbolized on screen by a graphical image (icon)
of a file folder. A folder can contain files and other folders.
format—(verb) To prepare a blank disk for use with the computer’s
operating system. Formatting creates a structure on the disk so the
operating system can write information to the disk or read
information from it.
frontside bus—The primary pathway (bus) between the CPU and the
computer’s main memory. Also called “system bus.” See also bus.
function keys—The keys labeled F1 through F12, typically located on
the keyboard. Their function is determined by the operating system
and/or individual programs.
G
ground—A conductor to which all components of an electric circuit are
connected. It has a potential of zero (0) volts, is connected to the
earth, and is the point of reference for voltages in the circuit.
H
hard disk—A storage device composed of a rigid platter or platters that
can be magnetically coded with data. Hard disks hold much more
information than some external media and are used for long-term
storage of programs and data. The primary (or only) hard disk in a
computer is usually fixed, but some computers have secondary hard
disks that are removable.
hardware—The physical components of a computer system. Compare
software.