| Term | Definition |
| Technology | the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area.
See also Technology Page |
| Ethics | A set of moral principles or values. |
| File Swapping | The free exchange of files over the internet. ex. Napster |
| Plagiarism | to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source |
| Spamming | Electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. Some people define spam even more generally as any unsolicited e-mail. |
| Hackers | A person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system. |
| Crackers | To break into a computer system. The term was coined in the mid-80s by hackers who wanted to differentiate themselves from individuals whose sole purpose is to sneak through security systems. |
| Virus | A programs or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. Most viruses can also replicate themselves. |
| GIGO | Garbage in, garbage out |
| ROM | Read Only Memory, stored in the hard disk |
| CD-ROM | Read Only Memory stored on a compact disk |
| RAM | Random Access Memory, memory that is erased once the computer is shut off |
| Computer | a programmable device that can store and process data |
| CPU | central processing unit, the computer without other peripherals |
| Hardware | the physical components of a computer, includes input devices and output devices |
| Software | progams stored on hardware electronically |
| Hard disk | a magnetic disk where computer data is stored |
| Floppy Disk | a portable device that stores computer data |
| Input | whatever enters a computer, through hardware or elsewhere |
| Input Device | hardware that feeds data into a computer, such as a keyboard or mouse |
| Output | whatever leaves the computer |
| Output Device | a piece of hardware that presents computer data such as a monitor or speakers |
| Memory | any internal storage in a computer |
| Byte | short form for binary term, a unit of memory able to hold one character |
| Kilobyte | one thousand bytes |
| Megabyte | one million bytes |
| Gigabyte | one billion bytes |
| Binary | a numerical system based on two unique digits, generally 0 and 1 or charged and uncharged |