AQA GCSE Computer Science key terms

A sequence of bits, each of which is 0 or 1.

A branching structure in which each node has at most two children. In a Huffman tree, each internal node has two children.

A security method that uses a person's physical or behavioural characteristics, such as a fingerprint or voice pattern, to authenticate them.

Basic Input Output System: software held in ROM that provides instructions used when a computer starts up.

The smallest unit of binary data, with a value of either 0 or 1.

An image represented by a grid of pixels, with a stored value identifying each pixel’s colour.

A digital image made up of pixels arranged in rows and columns, with a colour represented for each pixel.

A sequence of binary digits used to represent data, such as the colours of successive pixels.

Creating and using an invented scenario to persuade a targeted person to reveal information or perform an action they would be unlikely to carry out in ordinary circumstances. Also called pretexting.

A short-range wireless technology used to exchange data between nearby devices.

A data type with only two possible values: True and False.

A statement made from inputs and logical operators that evaluates to either true (1) or false (0).

A system of logic in which each value is either TRUE or FALSE, commonly represented by 1 or 0.

A value with only two possible states: true or false, commonly represented by 1 or 0.

The instructions used to start a computer.

An automated computer program that carries out tasks, such as submitting website requests.

Test values at the limits of an allowed range and immediately outside those limits, used to check whether the boundaries are handled correctly.

A connection where one signal splits to feed more than one gate; each branch carries the same value.

A method of discovering a password by repeatedly trying possible combinations.

A sorting algorithm that repeatedly compares adjacent items and swaps them if they are in the wrong order.

A collection of wires through which data or signals are transmitted from one component to another.

A group of eight bits.

Small, very fast memory that holds copies of frequently used instructions and data to reduce repeated access to RAM.

The main program or subroutine that makes a particular subroutine call.

A test designed to distinguish a human user from an automated computer program. The name stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.

A value passed into the next column to the left when a column total is too large to fit in one digit.

Converting a value from one data type to another, such as converting the string '43' to the integer 43.

Managing resources or tasks from a central location rather than separately on each computer.