b2c (business to consumer) refers to a company either doing business online, a business with a physical location, or both, that provides goods and services primarily to consumers.
back the browser command button that returns you to the previously viewed page.
backbone the major connections or high-speed cables servicing a network. For example, the backbone for the Internet in the United States is maintained by the various telecomms that own the high-speed lines comprising the network.
back door an alternative way of gaining access to a computer system. A back door entry might be a programmed secret access into the system unknown to routine users of the system.
back end the database to which information presented by the front-end application connects. see front end.
background the field or setting against which characters or graphics are displayed on a monitor.
background execution modern computers are capable of running more than one program at a time. This is called multitasking. The program in use (primary program) is said to be operating in the foreground. Secondary programs are running in the background. For example, you might be writing a letter on a word processing program in the foreground while periodically monitoring a realtime stock quote application. To access the program in the background, the user would click the program icon on the taskbar.
backlighting flat-panel display illumination from behind that causes the foreground to appear more distinct in contrast to the background.
backslash the keyboard character, ( \ ).
backup also written as back up, to copy or save a program or file for safe keeping in the event the working program fails in some way or is lost. It is wise to back up all files on floppy, zip disks, or tape. Many software applications periodi - cally prompt you to save your work while you are actually working. However, a usershould still backup all work on the computer's hard drive in case of malfunction or failure.
bandwidth the quantity of data that can effectively be sent through a connection, measured in bits-per-second. The greater the bandwidth, the faster the transmission of information. High bandwidth also provides clearer images on a computer's display monitor while online.
bang the key character, ( ! ). The exclamation point.
banner ad an advertisement on a Web page with a short compelling message. The message is designed to get the user to click on the ad. The ad contains a hyperlink to the advertiser's Website. see hyperlink.
bar chart (bar graph) a type of chart or graph that quantifies or measures relative values represented by rectangular bars.
BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) an early computer programming language developed in the 1960s that has many contemporary varia- Figure B.01. bar chart 11 BASIC 16 tions functioning today. BASIC is used for many business applications and includes a great number of proprietary functions.
batch processing putting a computer to work to process large amounts of data at one time. Batch processing is best accomplished during periods when the computer would otherwise be idle because continuous running time is required.
BAT file (batch file) a DOS or Microsoft file that ends with a .BAT extension.
baud a unit of measurement that represents the number of bits that can be sent or received over a telephone line or via a satellite signal per second. Baud is actually the maximum number of times per second that the signal shifts value. For example, a 56,000-baud modem takes 56,000-baud (56,000-bps) and encodes it into an audio signal whose actual signal is 14,000. To keep it simple, remember that the higher the baud rate, the faster the transmission of data. The challenge is that telephone lines are limited in their ability to transmit these signals.
The term baud is losing popularity to the more accurate "bps" meaning bits per second.
bay (bay drive, drive bay) a site on a computer or portable disk drive where a disk or tape drive may exist or be installed.
BBS (Bulletin Board System) a computerized meeting and chat system where subscribers can exchange ideas and information, as well as upload and download files. Since the early 1990s the functions of BBSs have been much replaced by the Internet.
Bcc abbreviation for blind carbon copies. When composing email, the writer has the option of sending copies to others so the recipients cannot see each other's email addresses and are not aware that copies are going to addresses other than their own.
bells and whistles advanced features available on both computer hardware and software. In the past, bells and whistles referred to features that made the computer or program more difficult to use. Now, however, bells and whistles often refer to desirable or state-of-the-art features.
benchmark a program used to test the performance of software and/or hardware.
A benchmark is a standard that is not entirely objective because of the possible bias of the individual who developed the test, or the equipment settings determined by the tester.
beta (beta testing) software that is in the preliminary or testing stage where glitches or bugs may still be undetected. Users involved in beta testing are often rebatch processing 17 quired to run the application extensively and record findings such as ease of use, and any problems encountered, and report back to the developer with suggestions as to how the software might be improved.
bi-directional the ability to transmit data in two directions. Contemporary parallel ports are bi-directional because of their ability to communicate with printers as well as disk drivers.
binary a number system that uses two distinct digits. Computers use the binary number system which is comprised of the numbers 0 and 1. Digital data of every imaginable type is encoded using the binary system.
BinHex a method for converting binary data into ASCII. see ASCII.
BIOS (Basic Input Output System) built-in software that controls a number of routine functions of a computer such as the display screen, keyboard, disk drives, and the real time clock.
bit bi(nary) digi(t) the most basic unit of data in the binary numeral system. Computers are often classified by the number of bits they can process at one time.
bit bucket a slang term that refers to the unknown place where lost data goes, never to be recovered.
bitmap any graphical representation displayed on a computer monitor that is comprised of pixels or dots. Every pixel is made up of bits of data, each of which helps to define the overall color and shade of the graphic when translated into an image by the computer and display monitor. In monochrome monitors, one bit represents a single pixel. Bitmaps come in a variety of file formats such as GIF, JPEG, and TIFF.
BITNET a large area-wide network originating in the early 1980s used to transmit email among university scholars and researchers.
bits per second (bps) a unit of measurement that counts the number of bits that can be sent or received over a telephone line or via a satellite signal per second.
Modem speeds are measured using bps. see baud.
bloatware a slang term used to describe software with elaborate features requiring large amounts of disk space and RAM.
block move in word processing, the moving of one section of a file to another location within the file, or to an entirely different file. This is accomplished by block move 18 highlighting the desired text, copying the highlighted material and pasting it to the new location.
board 1. short for a printed circuit board. 2. a bulletin board system or chat forum.
bogus a slang term used to describe anything defective or faulty.
bold (boldface) a font that is darker than the normal. Contemporary word processors allow a user to change a font to boldface with the click of a button. For example, this is normal print. This is boldface print.
bomb a tremendous failure with regard to a computer project of any type or a software application.
bookmark a feature on a Web browser that allows the user to store one or more favorite Websites or URLs, save them in a folder, and have them readily accessible by a couple of simple mouse clicks. Bookmarks are also referred to as Favorites.
boolean (boolean logic) a system of locating and retrieving computer data by the use of certain words such as AND, OR, XOR and NOT.
boot to start a computer. Derived from the word bootstrap.
boot disk software used to start a computer.
bot slang expression for robot, a program that runs automatically. Among the uses for bots are to locate information on the World Wide Web and for the automatic collection of email addresses.
bounce 1. the return of undeliverable email to the sender. 2. to transfer incoming email without identifying who forwarded it.
bounding box (box) an invisible enclosure surrounding a graphic that allows the user to manipulate the image with handles represented by small black squares.
It also determines the true size of the image.
Bps when written with a capital B, Bytes per second.
bps bits per second.
braces (curly braces) the keyboard characters { }.
brackets (square brackets) the keyboard characters [ ].
brittle usually refers to software operating reliably yet subject to sudden malfunction quickly, under even the slightest change in conditions.
broken hyperlink (broken link) a link on a Web page that, for any number of reasons no longer points (connects) to a another page. see dead link.
browser (Web browser) a software application that retrieves Web pages or files on the World Wide Web. Web browsers are the programs that allow users to call for and view information online. Popular Web browsers a include Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
bug an error or malfunction in a computer program. Recently the term has taken on a broader meaning referring to almost any problem having to do with both software and hardware.
bullet a program character as opposed to a keyboard character used to emphasize a point in a document. Bullets come in many sizes and shapes. The following are a few examples: bundled software software sold as part of a package either with a computer or with other software. For example, most PCs come equipped with the most recent version of Windows while Microsoft Office consists of individual programs that compliment each other and are less costly packaged together.
bounding box bullets bundled software burn slang term referring to the copying or recording of data on a CD-R or floppy disk.
bus the configuration of wires and electronic channels through which data is transmitted inside a computer.
button a circular, square, or rectangular designation within a dialog box, toolbar, or on a desktop, that a user can click with a mouse to initiate various functions.
byte the space required in a computer to store a single character. In modern computers a byte is usually equal to 8 bits. The main memory space or hard drive in a computer is now measured in Gigabytes (GB), one GB being the equivalent of approximately one billion bytes.
