Computer science is a subject with many languages; java, python, Microsoft Visual Basic. But, what about the English language that learners use when developing their computing skills?
We’re sharing the glossary from our Cambridge IGCSE™ & O Level Computer Science Coursebook to help your learners develop their subject specific vocabulary.
From adware to zombies, our downloadable glossary has your students covered.
Here are some of our favourite computer science terms to add to your vocabulary and give you a wider view of the subject’s language.
adware: a software based cyber issue that automatically creates popup advertisements.
architecture: the design of a computer system, including the components it contains.
auto-completion: a feature of an editor that gives the user options when they start typing a command.
bootstrap: the first commands loaded when a computer starts, it checks hardware and loads the firmware.
control bus: wires used for the transmission of control signals between components in a computer.
firmware: instructions that are stored in the ROM and are loaded when the computer starts.
high-level language: a type of programming language that uses English-like commands.
infrastructure: the physical structure, such as all the components and cables, that are used to connect devices
machine learning: a computer program that can adapt its stored rules or processes.
metadata: additional data that is stored with an image that can provide information such as the dimensions of the image and the time and date the image was taken.
robot: a machine that replicates human actions or movement.
sensor: a type of input device that is used to capture data from its immediate environment.
timeout: a period of time that is set and used to wait for an acknowledgement to be received.
truth table: a method to show all the different outcomes of an electrical circuit or system, dependent on the inputs it receives.
zombie: the name given to a bot that has malware downloaded onto it to allow it to be used in a DDoS attack, but it currently isn’t being used in this way. It is effectively a dormant or sleeping bot.
If you found this helpful you might also like our computer science acronyms quiz. Get students talking and see who knows their RAM from their ROM.
