📚 Vocabulary and Terminology Quick Reference Guide | 词汇术语速记指南
Mastering the key terms in Computer Science is essential for excelling in Year 7 CAIE. This guide provides clear, concise definitions of the most important vocabulary you will encounter, helping you to remember them quickly and use them accurately in written answers and practical work.
掌握计算机科学的关键术语对于 Year 7 CAIE 的优异成绩至关重要。本指南提供了你将遇到的最重要词汇的清晰、简洁的定义，帮助你快速记忆，并在书面答题与实践操作中准确使用这些术语。
Every definition below is written the way an examiner expects to see it: short, precise, and linked to a clear purpose. Read one section at a time, cover the Chinese column, and try to explain each term aloud in your own words. If you can explain it, you know it.
下面每一个定义都按照考官期望的方式书写：简短、准确、并说明用途。建议每次只读一节，遮住中文部分，尝试用自己的话把术语讲出来。能讲清楚，才算真正掌握。
1. Basic Components of a Computer | 计算机的基本组成
Hardware – The physical parts of a computer that you can touch, such as the case, cables, and circuit boards. Hardware is useless without software to control it.
硬件 – 计算机中可以触摸到的物理部件，例如机箱、线缆和电路板。没有软件控制，硬件无法工作。
Central Processing Unit (CPU) – The primary component that executes instructions. It performs calculations and controls the flow of data.
中央处理器 (CPU) – 执行指令的主要部件，进行计算并控制数据流。
Control Unit (CU) – The part of the CPU that decodes each instruction and tells the other components what to do and when.
控制单元 (CU) – CPU 的组成部分，负责译码每条指令，并指挥其他部件在何时执行什么操作。
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) – es out calculations (+, −, ×, ÷) and logical comparisons such as greater than or equal to.
算术逻辑单元 (ALU) – CPU 中执行运算（加、减、乘、除）和逻辑比较（如大于或等于）的部件。
Motherboard – The main circuit board that connects the CPU, memory, and other hardware components.
主板 – 连接 CPU、内存和其他硬件组件的主电路板。
Random Access Memory (RAM) – Temporary storage that holds data and programs currently in use, allowing quick access.
随机存取存储器 (RAM) – 临时存储当前正在使用的数据和程序，允许快速访问。
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) / Solid State Drive (SSD) – Permanent storage devices that keep files and software even when the computer is off.
硬盘驱动器 (HDD) / 固态驱动器 (SSD) – 永久存储设备，即使计算机关闭也能保存文件和软件。
Power Supply Unit (PSU) – Converts electricity from the wall outlet into the correct voltages for the computer's components.
电源单元 (PSU) – 将墙插电源转换为适合计算机组件使用的正确电压。
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) – A specialised processor that handles images, video, and 3D graphics, often found on a separate expansion card.
图形处理器 (GPU) – 专门处理图像、视频和三维图形的处理器，通常位于独立的扩展卡上。
Bus – The set of wires or pathways that carries data and control signals between the CPU, memory, and input/output devices.
总线 – 在 CPU、内存和输入输出设备之间传输数据与控制信号的线路或通道。
Peripheral – Any device connected to the main computer system, such as a printer, webcam, or external drive.
外设 – 连接到主机系统的任何设备，例如打印机、摄像头或外置硬盘。
2. Input Devices | 输入设备
Input device – Any hardware that sends data or commands into a computer system for processing.
输入设备 – 任何把数据或指令送入计算机系统进行处理的硬件。
Keyboard – A device with keys used to type letters, numbers, and commands.
键盘 – 带有按键的设备，用于输入字母、数字和命令。
Mouse – A pointing device that controls a cursor on the screen.
鼠标 – 控制屏幕上光标的指向设备。
Touchscreen – A display that detects the touch of a finger or stylus as input.
触摸屏 – 可检测手指或触控笔触摸作为输入的显示器。
Microphone – Captures sound and converts it into digital data.
麦克风 – 捕捉声音并将其转换为数字数据。
Scanner – Creates a digital image of a physical document or photo.
扫描仪 – 将物理文档或照片转换为数字图像。
Webcam – A small digital camera that captures live video, often used for video calls and online lessons.
网络摄像头 – 捕捉实时视频的小型数字摄像头，常用于视频通话和在线课程。
Graphics tablet – A flat pad used with a stylus so that drawings and handwriting can be entered directly as digital data.
数位板 – 配合触控笔使用的平板，使绘图和手写内容可以直接输入为数字数据。
Joystick or game controller – An input device with levers and buttons used to control movement in games and simulations.
游戏摇杆或手柄 – 带有操纵杆和按键的输入设备，用于在游戏和模拟中控制移动。
Sensor – A device that detects a physical change such as temperature, light, or pressure and sends the reading to a computer.
传感器 – 检测温度、光照或压力等物理变化，并把读数发送给计算机的设备。
Barcode reader – Scans the black-and-white pattern on a product label and converts it into a number that identifies the item.
条码阅读器 – 扫描商品标签上的黑白图案，并将其转换为可识别商品的编号。
3. Output Devices | 输出设备
Output device – Any hardware that presents the results of processing in a form a human can understand, such as text, sound, or an image.
输出设备 – 把处理结果以人类可理解的形式（如文字、声音或图像）呈现出来的硬件。
Monitor – A screen that displays text, images, and video from the computer.
显示器 – 显示计算机文本、图像和视频的屏幕。
Printer – Produces a physical copy (hard copy) of a digital document.
打印机 – 生成数字文档的物理副本（硬拷贝）。
Inkjet printer – Sprays tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper; cheap to buy and good for photo printing, but slow and costly per page.
喷墨打印机 – 把微小墨滴喷到纸张上；购买成本低、适合打印照片，但速度慢、单页成本高。
Laser printer – Uses static electricity and powdered toner to print quickly and cheaply in large volumes; the usual choice in offices and schools.
激光打印机 – 利用静电和墨粉快速、低成本地大批量打印，是办公室和学校的常见选择。
3D printer – Builds a solid object layer by layer from a digital model, usually by melting plastic filament.
三维打印机 – 依据数字模型逐层堆叠材料制成实体物品，通常通过熔化塑料线材实现。
Speakers – Output sound generated by the computer.
扬声器 – 输出计算机产生的声音。
Headphones – Personal audio output device worn on or around the ears.
耳机 – 佩戴在耳朵上或耳周的个人音频输出设备。
Projector – Throws a large image onto a wall or screen so that a whole class can see the same output.
投影仪 – 把大幅图像投射到墙面或幕布上，使全班都能看到相同的输出。
Plotter – A large printer that draws precise line drawings such as engineering plans, maps, and architectural designs.
绘图仪 – 大型打印设备，用于绘制工程图、地图和建筑设计等精确线条图。
Actuator – A motor or other device that converts an output signal into physical movement, for example closing a valve or turning a wheel.
执行器 – 把输出信号转换为物理动作的电机或其他装置，例如关闭阀门或转动车轮。
4. Storage Devices and Memory | 存储设备与内存
Primary storage – Memory that the CPU can access directly and very quickly, such as RAM and ROM. It is small in capacity and usually volatile.
主存储器 – CPU 可以直接且非常快速访问的存储器，如 RAM 和 ROM。容量小，通常是易失性的。
Secondary storage – Non-volatile storage used to keep files and programs permanently, such as an HDD, SSD, or USB flash drive.
辅助存储 – 用于长期保存文件和程序的非易失性存储，如硬盘、固态硬盘或 U 盘。
Read Only Memory (ROM) – Non-volatile memory that holds the start-up instructions (bootstrap) needed when the computer is switched on. Its contents cannot normally be changed.
只读存储器 (ROM) – 保存开机所需启动指令（引导程序）的非易失性存储器，其内容通常无法更改。
Cache – A small amount of very fast memory inside or close to the CPU that stores frequently used instructions and data.
高速缓存 – CPU 内部或附近的一小块极快存储器，用于存放频繁使用的指令和数据。
Volatile – Describes memory that loses its contents when the power is switched off; RAM is volatile.
易失性 – 指断电后内容会丢失的存储器；RAM 就是易失性的。
Non-volatile – Describes storage that keeps its contents when the power is switched off; ROM, HDD, and SSD are non-volatile.
非易失性 – 指断电后仍能保存内容的存储；ROM、硬盘和固态硬盘都是非易失性的。
Optical storage – Media read and written by laser, such as CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs, often used for distributing software and films.
光存储 – 通过激光读写的介质，如 CD、DVD 和蓝光光盘，常用于分发软件和影片。
USB flash drive – A small, portable, rewritable solid-state device that plugs into a USB port.
U 盘 – 插入 USB 端口的小型便携可重写固态存储设备。
Memory card – A tiny removable card used in cameras, phones, and games consoles to store photos, videos, and saves.
存储卡 – 用于相机、手机和游戏机的小型可拆卸卡，用来保存照片、视频和存档。
Cloud storage – Files stored on remote servers owned by a provider and accessed over the internet, so they can be reached from any device.
云存储 – 文件保存在服务商的远程服务器上，通过互联网访问，因此可以从任何设备读取。
5. Software and Operating Systems | 软件与操作系统
Software – The programs and instructions that tell the hardware what to do. Software is not physical and cannot be touched.
软件 – 告诉硬件做什么的程序和指令。软件不是实体，无法触摸。
System software – Software that runs and maintains the computer itself, such as the operating system and utility programs.
系统软件 – 运行和维护计算机本身的软件，例如操作系统和实用程序。
Application software – Software written for a user task, such as a word processor, spreadsheet, browser, or game.
应用软件 – 为完成用户任务而编写的软件，例如文字处理软件、电子表格、浏览器或游戏。
Operating system (OS) – The master program that manages memory, files, devices, and users, and provides the interface through which you control the computer.
操作系统 (OS) – 管理内存、文件、设备和用户的主程序，并提供你控制计算机的界面。
Graphical User Interface (GUI) – An interface built from windows, icons, menus, and pointers, which is easy for beginners to use.
图形用户界面 (GUI) – 由窗口、图标、菜单和指针构成的界面，对初学者来说易于使用。
Command Line Interface (CLI) – An interface where the user types text commands; it is harder to learn but faster and uses fewer resources.
命令行界面 (CLI) – 用户输入文字命令的界面；学习难度较大，但速度更快、占用资源更少。
Utility software – A small tool that helps maintain the system, such as a disk defragmenter, backup tool, or antivirus program.
实用软件 – 帮助维护系统的小型工具，如磁盘碎片整理程序、备份工具或杀毒软件。
Device driver – A small program that allows the operating system to communicate with a particular piece of hardware.
设备驱动程序 – 使操作系统能够与特定硬件通信的小程序。
File – A named collection of data stored on secondary storage, such as a document, photo, or song.
文件 – 存储在辅助存储器上的有名称的数据集合，例如文档、照片或歌曲。
Folder (directory) – A container used to group related files together so they are easier to find and organise.
文件夹（目录） – 用于把相关文件分组存放的容器，便于查找和整理。
File extension – The letters after the dot in a filename, such as .docx or .mp3, which tell the computer which program to open the file with.
文件扩展名 – 文件名中点号后面的字母，如 .docx 或 .mp3，用来告诉计算机用哪个程序打开该文件。
Multitasking – The ability of an operating system to run more than one program at apparently the same time by sharing the CPU.
多任务处理 – 操作系统通过共享 CPU，让多个程序看似同时运行的能力。
6. Data, Binary and Units | 数据、二进制与单位
Data – Raw facts and figures with no meaning on their own, such as a list of numbers or a set of readings.
数据 – 本身没有意义的原始事实和数值，例如一串数字或一组读数。
Information – Data that has been processed and given meaning, so that it is useful for making decisions.
信息 – 经过处理并被赋予意义的数据，可用于做出决策。
Bit – The smallest unit of data in a computer; a single binary digit, either 0 or 1.
位（比特） – 计算机中最小的数据单位；一个二进制数字，只能是 0 或 1。
Nibble – A group of 4 bits, which can represent 16 different values.
半字节 – 由 4 位二进制组成的单位，可以表示 16 种不同的值。
Byte – A group of 8 bits, which is enough to store one character such as a letter or digit.
字节 – 由 8 位二进制组成的单位，足以存储一个字符，如一个字母或数字。
Binary – A base-2 number system that uses only the digits 0 and 1, which is how all data is stored inside a computer.
二进制 – 只使用数字 0 和 1 的二进制（基数为 2）计数系统，计算机内部所有数据都以这种方式存储。
Denary (decimal) – The everyday base-10 number system that uses the digits 0 to 9.
十进制 – 日常生活中使用 0 到 9 这十个数字的十进制（基数为 10）计数系统。
Hexadecimal – A base-16 number system using 0-9 and A-F. It is used as a shorthand for binary because one hex digit equals exactly 4 bits.
十六进制 – 使用 0-9 和 A-F 的十六进制（基数为 16）计数系统。由于一位十六进制数正好等于 4 位二进制，因此常作为二进制的简写形式。
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) – A 7-bit character code that gives each letter, digit, and symbol a unique binary value.
美国信息交换标准代码 (ASCII) – 一种 7 位字符编码，为每个字母、数字和符号分配唯一的二进制值。
Unicode – A much larger character set that includes the symbols and alphabets of most world languages, including Chinese characters.
Unicode 编码 – 包含世界上大多数语言符号与字母（包括汉字）的更大字符集。
Pixel – The smallest single point of colour in a digital image; short for picture element.
像素 – 数字图像中最小的单色点，是 picture element 的缩写。
Resolution – y written as width × height, such as 1920 × 1080. Higher resolution means a sharper image.
分辨率 – 图像或屏幕中像素的数量，通常写作宽 × 高，例如 1920 × 1080。分辨率越高，图像越清晰。
Colour depth (bit depth) – The number of bits used to store the colour of each pixel. More bits allow more colours.
色彩深度（位深） – 用于存储每个像素颜色的二进制位数。位数越多，可表示的颜色越多。
Sample rate – The number of times a sound wave is measured each second when recording, measured in hertz (Hz).
采样率 – 录音时每秒对声波测量的次数，单位为赫兹 (Hz)。
Compression – Reducing the size of a file so that it takes up less storage and transfers faster.
压缩 – 缩小文件体积，使其占用更少存储空间并更快传输。
Lossy compression – Permanently removes some data to make a much smaller file, as in MP3 and JPEG. Quality is lost and cannot be restored.
有损压缩 – 永久删除部分数据以获得更小的文件，如 MP3 和 JPEG。画质或音质会降低且无法恢复。
Lossless compression – Reduces file size without losing any data, so the original can be perfectly rebuilt, as in PNG and ZIP.
无损压缩 – 在不丢失任何数据的前提下减小文件体积，可完美还原原始文件，如 PNG 和 ZIP。
Image file size (bits) = width × height × colour depth
Sound file size (bits) = sample rate × bit depth × duration × number of channels
The two formulas above are the standard way to estimate file size before compression. Always check the units: if the sample rate is in Hz and the duration is in seconds, the answer will be in bits, so divide by 8 to get bytes.
上面两个公式是估算压缩前文件大小的标准方法。务必检查单位：若采样率单位为 Hz、时长为秒，结果单位为位 (bits)，需除以 8 才能换算成字节 (bytes)。
| Unit | 单位 | Value | 数值 | Typical use | 典型用途 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 byte | 8 bits | One character | 一个字符 |
| 1 KB (kilobyte) | 1,000 bytes | A short text file | 一个短文本文件 |
| 1 MB (megabyte) | 1,000 KB | A photo or a song | 一张照片或一首歌 |
| 1 GB (gigabyte) | 1,000 MB | A film or a large game | 一部电影或大型游戏 |
