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GA IST Glossary

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operating system (OS) General

The primary software that runs applications and manages all the hardware, memory and other software on a computer.

software General

A set of computer instructions that tells the computer how to work.

workstation OS General

Most commonly used on a desktop or laptop computer and can perform many tasks without an internet connection.

mobile OS General

An operating system used on mobile devices, such as a mobile phone or tablet.

server OS General

Used on specialized computers that take in requests and send back a response (mail server, web server, etc).

embedded OS General

Will only perform one type of task and are used in machines such as an ATM or a GPS system.

firmware General

An operating system that is permanently etched into a hardware device such as a keyboard or a video card.

hypervisor General

Operating systems that are most commonly used to run multiple operating systems on a computer system at the same time.

platform General

An operating system such as Windows, Mac OS, Android or iOS.

single-platform software General

Software that only works on one platform, such as only on Android phones, or only on Mac computers.

cross-platform software General

Software that works on multiple platforms.

Linux General

An open-source and community-developed operating system.

Apple Macintosh (macOS) General

An operating system that uses a graphical user interface designed by Apple Inc. for use on desktops and laptops.

Microsoft Windows General

An operating system that uses a graphical user interface designed by Microsoft for use on desktops and laptops.

file system General

A method of organizing files and retrieving them from storage.

file management General

Software that manages data and files along with the ability to create, modify, and move these files.

GUI (graphical user interface) General

A type of interface that uses interactive graphical elements such as windows, buttons, and icons.

file extension General

The suffix at the end of a filename that indicates what the type of file.

processor General

The electronic part of a computer that executes the instructions that are passed to it by the operating system. It’s also called a CPU, or central processing unit.

software license General

Legally binding guidelines for use and distribution of software.

open source software General

Software that is available for anyone to access and modify.

proprietary software General

Software that is owned by an individual or company.

application architecture model General

Refers to the design of the essential parts of an application and how they are connected to each other.

locally installed software General

Software installation that is performed on your local computer.

local network hosted General

Software installation that is performed on a local area network (LAN).

cloud hosted General

Software that is installed, hosted and accessed entirely from a remote server or location.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) General

A step-by-step process for developing software efficiently and effectively.

Flowchart General

A diagram that represents the steps in a process or program using symbols and arrows.

Waterfall Model General

A linear, sequential development model where each phase must be completed before the next begins

Agile General

A flexible, iterative development approach that emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and rapid delivery