Hardware Vocbulary
The brain of the computer where most calculations take place
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Operating System (OS)
System software that manages hardware and software resources (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux).
Input Devices
Devices that allow users to interact with a computer (e.g., keyboard, mouse).
Database Software
Software for managing and organizing data (e.g., Microsoft Access, Oracle).
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Handles rendering of images, videos, and animations.
The main circuit board that connects all components of a computer
Motherboard
Programs designed to perform specific tasks (e.g., Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop).
Application Software
Output Devices
Devices that allow the computer to communicate with the user (e.g., monitor, printer
Spreadsheet Software
Software designed for data organization and calculation (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets).
Monitor
The visual output device for displaying information.
Temporary storage that provides space for the computer to read and write data to be accessed by the CPU quickly
RAM (Random Access Memory)
System Software
Software designed to provide a platform for other software (e.g., device drivers, utilities).
Peripheral Devices
External devices that provide additional functionality (e.g., scanners, webcams).
Presentation Software
Programs for creating slide-based presentations (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Prezi)
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Allows a computer to connect to a network.
A storage device used to store data permanently.
Hard Drive (HDD)
Permanent software programmed into a hardware device
Firmware
Power Supply Unit (PSU
Converts electrical power to a form usable by the computer.
Web Browser
Software used to access the Internet (e.g., Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox)
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
A standard for connecting peripherals to a computer.
A faster storage device compared to HDD with no moving part
Solid State Drive (SSD)
Cloud Computing
Software and services that run on the Internet instead of locally on a computer (e.g., Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive).
Cooling System
Components such as fans or liquid cooling systems to prevent overheating.
Email Client
Software for sending and receiving emails (e.g., Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird).
Printer
A device that converts digital information into physical copies.