Glossary of Terms
Play, Learn and Explore
Bus
What it means: The “bus” carries messages and information around the computer.
Visual idea: A smiling blue bus with glowing headlights.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
What it means: The “leader” of the computer that makes decisions and tells other parts what to do.
Visual idea: A tiny king giving helpful instructions.
Commands
What it means: Special instructions that tell a computer exactly what to do.
Visual idea: A speech bubble saying “Go!” or “Start!”
Computer
What it means: A machine that helps people play, learn, and do work.
Visual idea: A screen with a happy face.
Data
What it means: Information a computer uses, like words, numbers, or pictures.
Visual idea: Colorful shapes floating into a machine.
Defragmentation
What it means: Cleaning up and putting things back where they belong so the
computer can find them quickly.
Visual idea: Books being put neatly on a shelf.
Driver
What it means: A special helper that tells a device how to work.
Visual idea: A tiny robot with a toolbox.
Instructions
What it means: Steps that tell a computer how to do something.
Visual idea: A simple picture guide with arrows.
Keyboard
What it means: The set of buttons you press to type letters and numbers.
Visual idea: Big friendly keys with letters on them.
Mainframe
What it means: A very big, very powerful computer used long ago to do important jobs.
Visual idea: A giant robot‑like machine with blinking lights.
Network
What it means: A group of computers connected so they can talk to each other.
Visual idea: Bright lines linking little houses or buildings.
NIC (Network Interface Card)
What it means: The part that builds the “roads” for messages to travel between computers.
Visual idea: A kid laying down colorful wire‑bridges.
Operating System (OS)
What it means: The main helper that organizes everything on a computer and makes sure all the parts work together.
Visual idea: A friendly organizer with a checklist.
Power Supply
What it means: The energy that keeps a computer running.
Visual idea: A glowing battery or lightning bolt.
Process
What it means: When a computer thinks and works to solve a problem.
Visual idea: Gears turning or sparkles moving through a machine.
Punch Card
What it means: A stiff card with little holes that told old computers what to do.
Visual idea: A rectangle card with dots or holes punched through it.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
What it means: The computer’s “big desk” where it keeps things it’s using right now so it can find them fast.
Visual idea: A giant desk with open notebooks.
Screen
What it means: The part of a computer you look at to see pictures and words.
Visual idea: A bright rectangle showing colorful shapes.
