Technology / Computers Glossary

Bad Sector: A sector on a disk or disk drive that cannot reliably store data because of a flaw in the media or damaged format markings.

Bandwidth: 1) The measure of the range of frequencies within a band required to transmit a particular signal. The wider the bandwidth, the more information it can carry. 2) Used to describe the data-ca . . . View Full Definition

Base-2: The computer numbering system that consists of two numerals: 0 and 1. Also known as binary.

Baseband: A method of transmission that sends a digital or analog signal in its original form, not changed by modulation. While this form of transmission can be much more reliable than its Broadband c . . . View Full Definition

Baseband Transmission: The transmission of digital signals over a limited distance. ARCnet and Ethernet LAN's use baseband. It is the opposite of broadband, which refers to the transmission of analog signals over . . . View Full Definition

Basic InputiOutput System (BIOS): A program burned onto ROM (read-only memory) that controls the interfacing of devices and software without the use of the installed operating system.

Batch File: A file that has the .BAT extension. This file usually contains a sequence (or batch) of commands. A batch files set of commands can be executed all at once by the batch file name rather than . . . View Full Definition

Baud: Pronounced bawd>. This term is named after J.M.E. Baudot who invented of the Baudot telegraph code. Commonly, the baud rate of a modem is how many bits it can send or receive per second. Tec . . . View Full Definition

Bay: An opening in a computer case (chassis) for the purpose of holding disk drives or other externally mounted devices.

Bayonet Network Connector (BNC): In computing, a Bayonet Network Connector is commonly used in the CCTV industry, usually installs on coaxial cable. The benefit of this connector is its ease of installation and its ability . . . View Full Definition

Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC): A popular computer programing languge developed in the mid 1960s. Each statement is translated and executed as encountered; however, it can be compiled.

Beta: A testing stage for products (both hardware and software) that are being developed. It is referred to as the 'beta version'.

Bezel: A panel for cosmetic purposes that covers the face of an electronic device.

Binary: A basic numbering system that consists of ones and zeros.

Bit - Binary Digit: The smallest part of binary code, represented logically by 0 and 1 and electrically by 0 and 5 volts. On a large scale, refers to the state of on and off.

Bit Depth: Bit Depth can be referred to as Color Depth or Pixel Depth. It refers to a method of measurement where using the number of bits to define each pixel in an image to determine its color range. . . . View Full Definition

Bitmap: A file format used for digital imagery. This format maps an image pixel (or bit). All computer systems use this file format. Some of the common types of bitmap file formats would be BMP, GIF . . . View Full Definition

Bitmap (BMP): A Microsoft Windows image file format.

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