A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Backbone

The part of network structure that carries the majority of the data traffic.

Backup Media Pool

A logical collection of data-storage media that has been reserved for use by Microsoft Windows Backup. Backup uses Removable Storage to control access to specific media within a library.

Backup Operator

A type of local or global group that contains the user rights you need to back up and restore files and folders. Members of the Backup Operators group can back up and restore files and folders regardless of ownership, permissions, encryption, or auditing settings.

Backup set

A collection of files, folders, and other data that has been backed up and stored in a file or on one or more tapes.

Backup Set Catalog

A summary of the files and folders that have been saved in a backup set.

Backup types

A type that determines which data is backed up and how it is backed up. There are five backup types: copy, daily, differential, incremental, and normal.

Bandwidth

Generally speaking, the quantity of information capable of passing through any system. Usually measured in bits per second.

Bandwidth Allocation Protocol (BAP)

A PPP control protocol that is used on a multiprocessing connection to dynamically add and remove links.

Bandwidth Throttling

Setting a maximum portion of total network capacity that is a service is allowed to use

Banner

In web design, refers to the (usually) a large graphic or colored area at the top of each page that shows the company logo and other pertinent information and sets the look and feel of the web page.

Bar Chart

A diagram that translates quantities into columns of varying length according to their relative magnitude.

Bar Code

A pattern of thick and thin lines and space that represent characters that can be read by a scanner. The bar code identifies the item to which it is affixed; the scanner transfers the signal to a computer that matches the code to a price, inventory unit, etc.

Barrel Distribution

The term barrel distribution is a condition of a computer screen image that is narrowed at the top and bottom, and bowed outward in the center.

Baseline

A range of measurements derived from performance monitoring that represents acceptable performance under typical operating conditions.

Base Priority

A precedence ranking that determines the order in which the threads of a process are scheduled for the processor.

Basic Authentication

Basic authentication encodes user name and password data before transmitting it over the network.

Batch

A batch is a group of files or commands that are processed as a unit.

Batch Command

A single instruction that causes that execution of a number of relativity simple commands contained in batch files.

Bay

A bay space is in a computer cabinet where a hardware device such as a floppy disk, CD, or tape drive can be or has been installed.

Benchmark Program

A program designed to test a particular device, such as the speed at which particular computer chip or program processes data.

Beta testing

Testing software known as beta versions are released to a limited audience outside of the programming team. The software is released to groups of people so that further testing can ensure the product has few faults or bugs. Sometimes, beta versions are made available to the open public to increase the feedback field to a maximal number of future users.

Bi-directional

Descriptive of a device that functions in two directions such as bi-directional bus that can carry signals both to and from the devices to which it is connected.

Binary Search

A technique for searching through sequential data by dividing the set in half, discarding the half that logically does not contain the search object, dividing the remaining sel in half, and so on unit the search object is found.

Bindery

A database in Novell NetWare 3.x that contains organizational and security information about users and groups.

BIOS

Basic Input Output System. Provides fundamental services required for the operation of a computer. Permanently present in the machine, these routines are generally stored in ROM (Read Only Memory). The system board contains a ROM BIOS to support all of its standard functions. The Voyager Movie Player also has a BIOS for display features.

Binding

A process by which software components and layers are linked together.

Binary Digit

The smallest unit of data on a computer. A bit can hold one of two values 0 or 1 the two values used to create digital data.

Bit

A bit is the amount of information that can be stored by a digital device or other physical system that can normally exist in only two distinct states. In computing, a bit can also be defined as a variable or computed quantity that can have only two possible values. These two values are often interpreted as binary digits and are usually denoted by the 0 and 1.

Bit Block Transfer

A method of holding a block of graphics, such as Windows dialogue box, in memory so that it can be moved and redrawn quickly by memory-to-memory operations.

Bit Depth

A measurement of the number of bits of information used by a graphics file to describe each pixel. The more bits used for each pixel, the subtler the shades in an image can be. This results in a more complex, realistic appearance. The number of available colors increases exponentially as bit depth goes up.

• 1-bit images are always monochrome (a single color with no shades or hues)
• 8-bit image can support 256 different colors
• 16-bit image, 65,536 colors
• 24-bit image, 16.7 million colors 

Bitmap (Bitmapped)

A method for digitizing graphics, such as photographs, whereby the image is broken down into individual squares of color, called pixels, for storage or display.

Bit-mapped Registers

An S-register which contains multiple bit-oriented values.

Bitmap Font

A bitmap font is one that stores each glyph as an array of pixels (that is, a bitmap). It is less commonly known as a raster font. Bitmap fonts are simply collections of raster images of glyphs. For each variant of the font, there is a complete set of glyph images, with each set containing an image for each character. For example, if a font has three sizes, and any combination of bold and italic, then there must be 12 complete sets of images.

Bitmask

Bitmask is a value used with bit-wise operators (AND, EQV, IMP, NOT, OR, XOR) to test the state of individual bits in a particular bit-field value.

Bits Per Pixel

Color depth or bit depth, is a computer graphics term describing the number of bits used to represent the color of a single pixel in a bitmapped image or video frame buffer. This concept is also known as bits per pixel (bpp), particularly when specified along with the number of bits used.

Bits Per Second

Bits per second are used mainly to describe transmission speeds across networks and the Internet (both dial-up and broadband). Modems and other networking devices are measured in bps. It is noted as bps measurement of number of bits that can be transmitted in a second.

Blade Server

A Blade server is a type of rack-mounted enterprise server that can accept additional modularized motherboards for expansion, known as server blades, each of which contains its own CPU, RAM, and associated circuitry. Typically blades share a common power supply, operating system, and management mechanism.

Block Sort

A technique for sorting data or database records that entails splitting the record into small groups, sorting them, and then reintegrating the groups.

Block Transfer Control

Determines whether or not the modem uses block or stream mode during an MNP connection. In stream mode, MNP sends data frames in varying length. Block mode sends fixed data frames of 256 characters.

BMP

The BMP file format, sometimes called bitmap or DIB file format (for device-independent bitmap), is an image file format used to store bitmap digital images, especially on Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems.

BNC connector

A connector utilized in 10Base2 networks with thin coaxial cabling.

Bomb

 A situation wherein the computer ceases to process or respond top commands from the keyboard, mouse, etc. and must be restarted, often with an accompanying loss of data know as a crash.

Boolean Logic

A logical system based on a return of one or two variables as true or false. Yes or no. Boolean logic utilizes operators such as AND, OR, NOT, IF and THEN.

Bootleg Software

A program obtained outside of normal channels, such as proprietary software transferred illegally to a second user.

Boot PROM

(Boot Programmable Read-Only Memory). A ROM chip usually mounted on the network interface card that enables a personal computer to load the operating system from the network.

Bottleneck

A bottleneck is an occurrence where the performance or capacity of an entire system is degraded by a single or limited number of components or resources.

BPS

Bits per second.

Branch

Typically a command used to jump to another section of a program.

Bubble Sort

A bubble sort uses a algorithm for sorting text, database records, etc. in which the first two elements of the set are put in order, then the second and third are compared and ordered, and so on through the entire set. This creates a partial sort which highest item are pushed to the end of the list. The process is then repeated from the beginning unit the entire list is in order.

Buffer

A buffer is a temporary storage of data, often to free resources or to compensate for a difference in transmission speeds between devices.

Bug

A bug generally noted as a defect in a computer system or a program.

Bulk Encryption

A process in which large amounts of data, such as files, email messages, or online communication sessions, are encrypted for confidentiality.

Bundled

The term bundle typically is descriptive of a computer hardware and software sold together as a package.

Burn-in

A method of testing computer system for overall system functionality and reliability often weak components can be discovered within the burn-in timeline.

Bus

The set of lines which carries signals between the CPU and computer peripherals such as video graphic board, disk controller, modem, scanner, or printer.

Bus Controller

The Bus controller is a regulating mechanism that handles the flow of data through a computer.

Bus Mastering

The Bus mastering controller routine transfers data directly to system memory from the hard disk, bypassing the CPU.

Burst Mode

A bust mode is accomplished by the computer processor allowing one device take hold of total control of available bandwidth in a particular Bus. As a result the device sends information more quickly for short interval temporarily speeding the throughput of the bus for the particular device.

Bus topology

A network topology in which nodes are connected to a single cable with terminators at each end.