General Abbreviations and Terminology
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The nomenclature of computer science is heavily reliant on acronyms. Mastery of these abbreviations is essential, not only for navigating the digital landscape but also because they constitute a significant portion of direct, factual questions in the examination.
Core ICT Glossary
| Abbreviation | Full Form | Definition / Function |
|---|---|---|
| ASCII | American Standard Code for Information Interchange | A character encoding standard for electronic communication. |
| BIOS | Basic Input/Output System | Firmware used to perform hardware initialization during the booting process. |
| CPU | Central Processing Unit | The primary component of a computer that acts as its "brain." |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol | A standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server. |
| GUI | Graphical User Interface | A form of user interface that allows users to interact through graphical icons (like Windows or macOS). |
| HTTP | Hypertext Transfer Protocol | The foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. |
| HTTPS | Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure | An extension of HTTP used for secure communication over a computer network (uses encryption). |
| ISP | Internet Service Provider | A company that provides access to the Internet (e.g., Jio, Airtel). |
| JPEG | Joint Photographic Experts Group | A commonly used method of lossy compression for digital images. |
| LAN | Local Area Network | A computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence or school. |
| Portable Document Format | A file format developed by Adobe to present documents independently of software, hardware, or operating systems. | |
| RAM | Random Access Memory | Volatile memory used to store data currently being processed by the CPU. Data is lost when power is off. |
| ROM | Read-Only Memory | Non-volatile memory used primarily to store firmware. Data is retained even when power is off. |
| URL | Uniform Resource Locator | A reference to a web resource that specifies its location on a computer network (a web address). |
| WAN | Wide Area Network | A telecommunications network that extends over a large geographical distance. |
| Wi-Fi | Wireless Fidelity | A family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. |
| WWW | World Wide Web | An information system where documents and other web resources are identified by URLs. |
💡 Memory Tip
Differentiate clearly between volatile memory (RAM, which forgets) and non-volatile memory (ROM/Hard Drives, which remember).
Academic References
- Castells, M. (2011). The rise of the network society (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.