Toshiba Tecra 8100 - Manual (Page 208)

Glossary 2 User's Manual
Tecra 8100 User's Manual – 8100_UK.DOC – ENGLISH – Printed on 13/12/99 as IM8100UK
B
backup: A duplicate copy of files kept as a spare in case the original is
destroyed.
batch file: A file that can be executed from the system prompt containing a
sequence of operating system commands or executable files. See also
AUTOEXEC.BAT.
billion byte (Bi.B): A unit of data storage equal to 1,000,000,000 bytes. See
also million byte.
binary: The base two number system composed of zeros and ones (off or on),
used by most digital computers. The right most digit of a binary number
has a value of 1, the next a value of 2, then 4, 8, 16, and so on. For
example, the binary number 101 has a value of 5. See also ASCII.
BIOS: Basic Input Output System. The firmware that controls data flow within
the computer. See also firmware.
bit: Derived from "binary digit," the basic unit of information used by the
computer. It is either zero or one. Eight bits is one byte. See also byte.
board: A circuit board. An internal card containing electronic components,
called chips, which perform a specific function or increase the
capabilities of the system.
boot: Short for bootstrap. A program that starts or restarts the computer. The
program reads instructions from a storage device into the computer’s
memory.
bps: Bits per second. Typically used to describe the data transmission speed
of a modem.
buffer: The portion of the computer’s memory where data is temporarily
stored. Buffers often compensate for differences in the rate of flow from
one device to another.
bus: An interface for transmission of signals, data or electric power.
byte: The representation of a single character. A sequence of eight bits treated
as a single unit; also the smallest addressable unit within the system.
C
cache memory: High speed memory which stores data that increases
processor speed and data transfer rate. When the CPU reads data
from main memory, it stores a copy of this data in cache memory.
The next time the CPU needs that same data, it looks for it in the
cache memory rather than the main memory, which saves time.
The computer has two cache levels. Level one is incorporated into
the processor and level two resides in external memory.
capacity: The amount of data that can be stored on a magnetic storage
device such as a diskette (floppy disk) or hard disk. It is usually
described in terms of kilobytes (KB), where one KB = 1024 bytes
and megabytes (MB), where one MB = 1024 KB.
Card Station II: A device that enables one-point connection to a number
of peripheral devices and provides additional ports and slots.