First post

ABEND -  Abnormal Ending : The termination of processing due to a program or system fault.
ABORT - To terminate a process before completion.
ABS - ABSolute Value of n : The term used by many spreadsheet and database applications to return the absolute value of a number.
ACC - It stands for Accumulator and  Accuracy control Characters.
ACCELERATOR CHIP - The main driver of a video card, a chip that speeds the processing of graphics data.
ACCESS - To call up or activate for use. A computer system may contain a variety of programs and data files, but none are active or ready for use until called up by the operation or a program routine.
ACCESS CODE - The user name or security code required to use a computer, a particular program, or certain files.
ACCESS TIME - The interval between a request for data from storage by the computer and the moment when it is available to the user.
ACCOUNTING CHECK - A routine to assure that data has been entered and processed accurately.
ACCUMULATOR - The computer register which stores the intermediate results of arithmetical and logical operations.
ACCURACY CONTROL CHARACTER - A special character used to signal that transmitted data is faulty or unsuited to a particular device.
ACOUSTIC COUPLER - A device for connecting the computer to a telephone hand set to allow transmission of computer data over the telephone lines when a more direct connection is not available.
ACTIVE DOCUMENT - A document that is currently available to manipulation by the user.
ACTIVE FILE - A computer file available to the user or the computer for processing.
ACTIVE MATRIX - A type of LCD computer screen display that is constantly refreshed by means of transistors embedded in the screen.
ACTIVE WINDOW - In a system that allows viewing of multiple documents or programs on the screen, the document or window that is currently selected and available to the user is the Active window.
ADAPTER - Any hardware device or software routine that makes disparate hardware or software elements compatible.
ADAPTIVE SYSTEM - A computer program that "learns" by maintaining a record of its activity and revising subsequent actions.
ADD-ON - A hardware or software supplement that serves to enhance performance of an existing program or device.
ADD-ON CARD - A removable computer circuit board used to control a peripheral device such as a parallel or serial port, a game port, a scanner, or accelerated video.
ADDRESS - A number used to identify a specific location in computer storage.
ADDRESSING - A program instruction for assigning a memory location to a command or data.
ADDRESSING CAPACITY - A reference to the memory available for running programs, accessing data and performing other functions.
ADVANCED POWER MANAGEMENT - A feature designed to save power in many newer computers that powers the screen and, in some cases, the hard drive when input has been suspended for a set interval.
ALGORITHM - A set of precise instructions for performing a specific task and that must have a finite number of steps and a definite stopping place.