User`s guide

data Any type of information, such as numbers, letters, or

symbols, that can be processed by a computer.

database A collection of information organized in a form

that can be accessed and processed by a computer system.

data communications A broad term covering any

exchange of information between computers or similar

systems over telephone lines or computer networks.

data compression The various methods used to save

storage space by reducing or eliminating gaps, redundancies,

empty fields, and unnecessary data.

decimal The common form of number representation

used in everyday life, in which numbers are expressed in

terms of powers of 10, using the ten digits 0 through 9.

default A value, action, or setting that is automatically

used by a computer system when no other explicit

information has been given.

demodulate To recover the information being

transmitted by a modulated signal. For example, a

conventional radio receiver demodulates an incoming

broadcast signal to convert it into sound emitted by a

speaker.

device A piece of equipment connected to a computer. A

modem is a device.

digit (1) One of the characters, 0 through 9, used to

express numbers in decimal form. (2) One of the characters

used to express numbers in some other form, such as 0 and

1 in binary or 0 through 9 and A through F in hexadecimal.

Glossary