A Gathering Place: Microsoft Glossary of Terms 6

~B~

Boot Drive-through-Bytes Per Inch

A/B Switch box ~ America On-line AMI BIOS ~ Arithmetic Operation ARP ~ AVI Backbone ~ Bit Image Bit Map ~ Boot Disk Boot Drive ~ Bytes Per Inch C++ ~ Carrier Frequency carrier system ~ certification CGI ~ Chooser extension cipher ~ Clipper Chip clock ~ color color bits ~ communications satellite communications server ~ computer security CON ~ copy copy program ~ cycle time daemon ~ defragmentation demand paging ~ digitize DikuMUD ~ disk disk buffer ~ Document Style Semantics and Specification Language document window ~ dynamic Web page Easter egg ~ erase erase head ~ ezine F2F ~ finger2 firewall ~ font suitcase footer ~ FYI Game Control Adapter ~ GUI HAL ~ hot key1 hot key2 ~ Hz i486DX ~ internal modem internet ~ ISO 9660 ISO/OSI model ~ just-in-time K1 ~ knowledge base L1 cache ~ LU luggable computer ~ LZW compression MAC ~ MILNET mime ~ msec MTBF ~ MYOB named anchor ~ network drive Network File System ~ number crunching object ~ overwrite mode P5 ~ PC/XT keyboard PDA ~ pipeline processing piracy ~ preventive maintenance preview ~ pwd quasi-language ~ QWERTY keyboard R&D ~ registration marks Registry ~ RFI RF shielding ~ run-time library SAA ~ server error server push-pull ~ soft return software ~ style sheet stylus ~ System T1 ~ ToggleKeys token ~ typography UART ~ uupc V.120 ~ view2 viewer ~ VxD w3 ~ WinG WINS ~ WWW X.25 ~ X Windows Yahoo! ~ yotta- Z39.50 standard ~ Zulu time

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boot drive

n. In a PC-compatible computer, the disk drive that the BIOS uses to automatically load the operating system when the computer is turned on. Generally, the default boot drive is the primary floppy disk drive A: in PC-compatible computers with MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, or Windows 95 operating systems. If a floppy disk is not found in that drive, the BIOS will check the primary hard disk next, which is drive C:. The BIOS for these operating systems can be reconfigured to search drive C: first by using the BIOS setup program. See also A:, BIOS, disk drive, hard disk.

boot failure

n. The inability of a computer to locate or activate the operating system and thus boot, or start, the computer. See also boot2.

boot partition

n. The partition on a hard disk that contains the operating system and support files that the system loads into memory when the computer is turned on or restarted.

Boot Protocol

n. A protocol described in RFCs 951 and 1084 and used for booting diskless workstations. Also called BOOTP. See also boot2, RFC.

boot record

n. The section of a disk that contains the operating system.

boot sector

n. The portion of a disk reserved for the bootstrap loader (the self-starting portion) of an operating system. The boot sector typically contains a short machine language program that loads the operating system.

bootstrap loader

n. A program that is automatically run when a computer is switched on (booted). After first performing a few basic hardware tests, the bootstrap loader loads and passes control to a larger loader program, which typically then loads the operating system. The bootstrap loader typically resides in the computer's read-only memory (ROM).

border

n. 1. In programs and working environments that feature on-screen windows, the edge surrounding the user's workspace. Window borders provide a visible frame around a document or graphic. Depending on the program and its requirements, they can also represent an area in which the cursor or a mouse pointer takes on special characteristics. For example, clicking the mouse on a window border can enable the user to resize the window or split the window in two. 2. In printing, a decorative line or pattern along one or more edges of a page or illustration.

Border Gateway Protocol

n. A protocol used by NSFnet that is based on the External Gateway Protocol. See also External Gateway Protocol, NSFnet. Acronym: BGP.

BounceKeys

n. A feature in Windows 95 that instructs the processor to ignore double strokes of the same key and other unintentional keystrokes.

bound1

adj. Limited in performance or speed; for example, an input/output-bound system is limited by the speed of its input and output devices (keyboard, disk drives, and so on), even though the processor or program is capable of performing at a higher rate.

bound2

n. The upper or lower limit in a permitted range of values.

bozo filter

n. On the Internet, slang for a feature in some e-mail clients and newsgroup readers or a separate utility that allows the user to block, or filter out, incoming e-mail messages or newsgroup articles from specified individuals. Generally these individuals are ones that the user does not want to hear from, such as bozos. Also called kill file. See also bozo.

bps

n. Short for bits per second. The speed at which a device such as a modem can transfer data. Speed in bps is not the same as baud rate. See also baud, baud rate.

brain dump

n. A large, unorganized mass of information, presented in response to a query via e- mail or a newsgroup article, that is difficult to digest or interpret.

branch

n. 1. A node intermediate between the root and the leaves in some types of logical tree structure, such as the directory tree in Windows or a tape distribution organization. 2. Any connection between two items such as blocks in a flowchart or nodes in a network. See branch instruction.

BRB

Acronym for (I'll) be right back. An expression used commonly on live chat services on the Internet and online information services by participants signaling their temporary departure from the group. See also chat (definition 1).

break1

n. 1. Interruption of a program caused by the user pressing the Break key or its equivalent. 2. Interruption of a communications transmission that occurs when the receiving station interrupts and takes over control of the line or when the transmitting station prematurely halts transmission.

break2

vb. 1. To interrupt execution at a given spot, usually for the purpose of debugging. See also breakpoint. 2. To cause a routine, module, or program that had previously worked to cease working correctly.

Break key

n. A key or combination of keys used to tell a computer to halt, or break out of, whatever it is doing. On IBM PCs and compatibles under DOS, pressing the Pause/Break or Scroll Lock/Break key while holding down the Ctrl key issues the break command (as does Ctrl-C). On Macintosh computers, the key combination that sends a break code is Command-period.

breakpoint

n. A location in a program at which execution is halted so that a programmer can examine the program's status, the contents of variables, and so on. A breakpoint is set and used within a debugger and is usually implemented by inserting at that point some kind of jump, call, or trap instruction that transfers control to the debugger. See also debug, debugger.

BRI

n. Acronym for Basic Rate Interface. An ISDN subscriber service that uses two B (64 Kbps) channels and one D (64 Kbps) channel to transmit voice, video, and data signals. See also ISDN.

bridge

n. 1. A device that connects networks using the same communications protocols so that information can be passed from one to the other. Compare gateway. 2. A device that connects two local area networks, whether or not they use the same protocols. A bridge operates at the ISO/OSI data-link layer. See also data-link layer. Compare router.

bridge router

n. A device that supports the functions of both a bridge and router. A bridge router links two segments of a local or wide area network, passing packets of data between the segments as necessary, and uses Level 2 addresses for routing. Also called Brouter. See also bridge (definition 2), router.

Briefcase

n. A system folder in Windows 95 used for synchronizing files between two computers, usually between desktop and laptop computers. The Briefcase can be transferred to another computer via disk, cable, or network. When files are transferred back to the original computer, the Briefcase updates all files to the most recent version.

brightness

n. The perceived quality of radiance or luminosity of a visible object. Brightness is literally in the eye (and mind) of the beholder; a candle in the night appears brighter than the same candle under incandescent lights. Although its subjective value cannot be measured with physical instruments, brightness can be measured as luminance (radiant energy). The brightness component of a color is different from its color (the hue) and from the intensity of its color (the saturation). See also color model, HSB.

broadband

adj. Of or relating to communications systems in which the medium of transmission (such as a wire or fiber-optic cable) carries multiple messages at a time, each message modulated on its own carrier frequency by means of modems. Broadband communication is found in wide area networks. Compare baseband.

broadband network

n. A local area network on which transmissions travel as radio-frequency signals over separate inbound and outbound channels. Stations on a broadband network are connected by coaxial or fiber-optic cable, which can carry data, voice, and video simultaneously over multiple transmission channels that are distinguished by frequency. A broadband network is capable of high-speed operation (20 megabits or more), but it is more expensive than a baseband network and can be difficult to install. Such a network is based on the same technology used by cable television (CATV). Also called wideband transmission. Compare baseband network.

broadcast1

adj. Sent to more than one recipient. In communications and on networks, a broadcast message is one distributed to all stations. See also e-mail.

broadcast2

n. As in radio or television, a transmission sent to more than one recipient.

brownout

n. A condition in which the electricity level is appreciably reduced for a sustained period of time. In contrast to a blackout, or total loss of power, a brownout continues the flow of electricity to all devices connected to electrical outlets, although at lower levels than the normally supplied levels (120 volts in the United States). A brownout can be extremely damaging to sensitive electronic devices, such as computers, because the reduced and often fluctuating voltage levels can cause components to operate for extended periods of time outside the range they were designed to work in. On a computer, a brownout is characterized by a smaller, dimmer, and somewhat fluctuating display area on the monitor and potentially erratic behavior by the system unit. The only reliable means of preventing damage caused by a brownout condition is to use a battery- backed uninterruptible power supply (UPS). See also UPS. Compare blackout.

browse

vb. To scan a database, a list of files, or the Internet, either for a particular item or for anything that seems to be of interest. Generally, browsing implies observing, rather than changing, information. In unauthorized computer hacking, browsing is a (presumably) nondestructive means of finding out about an unknown computer after illegally gaining entry. brush

n. A tool used in paint programs to sketch or fill in areas of a drawing with the color and pattern currently in use. Paint programs that offer a variety of brush shapes can produce brushstrokes of varying width and, in some cases, shadowing or calligraphic effects.

BSD UNIX

n. Acronym for Berkeley Software Distribution UNIX. A UNIX version developed at the University of California at Berkeley, providing additional capabilities such as networking, extra peripheral support, and use of extended filenames. BSD UNIX was instrumental in gaining widespread acceptance of UNIX and in getting academic institutions connected to the Internet. BSD UNIX is now being developed by Berkeley Software Design, Inc. See also UNIX.

B-tree

n. A tree structure for storing database indexes. Each node in the tree contains a sorted list of key values and links that correspond to ranges of key values between the listed values. To find a specific data record given its key value, the program reads the first node, or root, from the disk and compares the desired key with the keys in the node to select a subrange of key values to search. It repeats the process with the node indicated by the corresponding link. At the lowest level, the links indicate the data records. The database system can thus rapidly skip down through the levels of the tree structure to find the simple index entries that contain the location of the desired records or rows.

BTW

or btw Acronym for by the way. An expression often used to preface remarks in e- mail and Internet newsgroup articles.

bubble chart

n. A chart in which annotated ovals (bubbles) representing categories, operations, or procedures are connected by lines or arrows that represent data flows or other relationships among the items represented by bubbles. In systems analysis, bubble charts, rather than block diagrams or flowcharts, are used to describe the connections between concepts or parts of a whole, without emphasizing a structural, sequential, or procedural relationship between the parts. Compare block diagram, flowchart.

bubble-jet printer

n. A form of nonimpact printer that uses a mechanism similar to that used by an ink- jet printer to shoot ink from nozzles to form characters on paper. A bubble-jet printer uses special heating elements to prepare the ink, whereas an ink-jet printer uses piezoelectric crystals. See also ink-jet printer, nonimpact printer. Compare laser printer.

bucket

n. A region of memory that is addressable as an entity and can be used as a receptacle to hold data. See also bit bucket.

buffer1

n. A region of memory reserved for use as an intermediate repository in which data is temporarily held while waiting to be transferred between two locations, as between an application's data area and an input/output device. A device or its adapter may in turn use a buffer to store data awaiting transfer to the computer or processing by the device.

buffer2

vb. To use a region of memory to hold data that is waiting to be transferred, especially to or from input/output (I/O) devices such as disk drives and serial ports. buffer pool

n. A group of memory or storage-device locations that are allocated for temporary storage, especially during transfer operations.

bug

n. 1. An error in coding or logic that causes a program to malfunction or to produce incorrect results. Minor bugs, such as a cursor that does not behave as expected, can be inconvenient or frustrating, but do not damage information. More severe bugs can require the user to restart the program or the computer, losing whatever previous work had not been saved. Worse yet are bugs that damage saved data without alerting the user. All such errors must be found and corrected by the process known as debugging. Because of the potential risk to important data, commercial application programs are tested and debugged as completely as possible before release. After the program becomes available, further minor bugs are corrected in the next update. A more severe bug can sometimes be fixed with a piece of software called a patch, which circumvents the problem or in some other way alleviates its effects. See also beta test, bomb2, crash2 (definition 1), debug, debugger, hang, inherent error, logic error, semantic error, syntax error. 2. A recurring physical problem that prevents a system or set of components from working together properly. While the origin of this definition is in some dispute, computer folklore attributes the first use of bug in this sense to a problem in the Harvard Mark I or the Army/University of Pennsylvania ENIAC that was traced to a moth caught between the contacts of a relay in the machine (although a moth is not entomologically a true bug).

built-in groups

n. The default groups provided with Microsoft Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server. A group defines a collection of rights and permissions for the user accounts that are its members. Built-in groups are therefore a convenient means of providing access to commonly used resources. See also group1.

bullet

n. A typographical symbol, such as a filled or empty circle, diamond, box, or asterisk, used to set off a small block of text or each item in a list. Round and square bullets are used to set of different levels of information. See also dingbat.

bulletproof

adj. Capable of overcoming hardware problems that, in another system, could lead to interruption of the task in progress.

bundle

vb. To combine products for sale as a lot. Frequently, operating system software and some widely used applications are bundled with a computer system for sale.

bundled software

n. 1. Programs sold with a computer as part of a combined hardware/software package. 2. Smaller programs sold with larger programs to increase the latter's functionality or attractiveness.

burn

vb. To write data electronically into a programmable read-only memory (PROM) chip by using a special programming device known variously as a PROM programmer, PROM blower, or PROM blaster. The term is also used in reference to creating read-only memory compact discs (CD-ROMs). Also called blast, blow. See also PROM.

burst1

n. Transfer of a block of data all at one time without a break. Certain microprocessors and certain buses have features that support various types of burst transfers. See also burst speed (definition 1).

burst2

vb. To break fanfold continuous-feed paper apart at its perforations, resulting in a stack of separate sheets.

burst mode

n. A method of data transfer in which information is collected and sent as a unit in one high-speed transmission. In burst mode, an input/output device takes control of a multiplexer channel for the time required to send its data. In effect, the multiplexer, which normally merges input from several sources into a single high-speed data stream, becomes a channel dedicated to the needs of one device until the entire transmission has been sent. Burst mode is used both in communications and between devices in a computer system. See also burst1.

bus

n. A set of hardware lines (conductors) used for data transfer among the components of a computer system. A bus is essentially a shared highway that connects different parts of the system--including the microprocessor, disk-drive controller, memory, and input/output ports--and enables them to transfer information. The bus consists of specialized groups of lines that carry different types of information. One group of lines carries data; another carries memory addresses (locations) where data items are to be found; yet another carries control signals. Buses are characterized by the number of bits they can transfer at a single time, equivalent to the number of wires within the bus. A computer with a 32-bit address bus and a 16-bit data bus, for example, can transfer 16 bits of data at a time from any of 232 memory locations. Most microcomputers contain one or more expansion slots into which additional boards can be plugged to connect them to the bus.

bus enumerator

n. A device driver that identifies devices located on a specific bus and assigns a unique identification code to each device. The bus enumerator is responsible for loading information about the devices onto the hardware tree. See also bus, device driver, hardware tree.

bus extender

n. 1. A device that expands the capacity of a bus. For example, IBM PC/AT computers used a bus extender to add onto the earlier PC bus and allow the use of 16-bit expansion boards in addition to 8-bit boards. See also bus. 2. A special board used by engineers to raise an add-on board above the computer's cabinet, making it easier to work on the circuit board.

business information system

n. A combination of computers, printers, communications equipment, and other devices designed to handle data. A completely automated business information system receives, processes, and stores data; transfers information as needed; and produces reports or printouts on demand. See also management information system. Acronym: BIS.

business software

n. Any computer application designed primarily for use in business, as opposed to scientific use or entertainment. In addition to the well-known areas of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and communications, business software for microcomputers also encompasses such applications as accounting, payroll, financial planning, project management, decision and support systems, personnel record maintenance, and office management.

bus mouse

n. A mouse that attaches to the computer's bus through a special card or port rather than through a serial port. See also mouse. Compare serial mouse.

bus network

n. A topology (configuration) for a local area network in which all nodes are connected to a main communications line (bus). On a bus network, each node monitors activity on the line. Messages are detected by all nodes but are accepted only by the node(s) to which they are addressed. A malfunctioning node ceases to communicate but does not disrupt operation (as it might on a ring network, in which messages are passed from one node to the next). To avoid collisions that occur when two or more nodes try to use the line at the same time, bus networks commonly rely on collision detection or token passing to regulate traffic. See also collision detection, contention, CSMA/CD, token bus network, token passing. Compare ring network, star network.

bus system

n. The interface circuitry that controls the operations of a bus and connects it with the rest of the computer system. See also bus.

button

n. 1. A graphic element in a dialog box that, when activated, performs a specified function. The user activates a button by clicking on it with a mouse or, if the button has the focus, by hitting the Return or Enter key. 2. On a mouse, a movable piece that is pressed to activate some function. Older mouse models have only one button; newer models typically have two or more buttons.

button help

n. Help information displayed via the selection of buttons or icons. Applications such as the World Wide Web, multimedia kiosks, and computer-aided instruction often use button help icons to ease system navigation.

byte

n. Abbreviated B. Short for binary term. A unit of data, today almost always consisting of 8 bits. A byte can represent a single character, such as a letter, a digit, or a punctuation mark. Because a byte represents only a small amount of information, amounts of computer memory and storage are usually given in kilobytes (1,024 bytes), megabytes (1,048,576 bytes), or gigabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes). See also bit, gigabyte, kilobyte, megabyte. Compare octet, word.

bytes per inch

n. The number of bytes that fit into an inch of length on a disk track or a tape. Acronym: BPI.

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