Here you find explanation for computer terms.

Our dictionary is sorted alphabetically so you can easily find the words you are looking for.




FAT
File Allocation Table, the file system of Windows95b/98/Me (FAT32) and MS-DOS/Windows95a (FAT16). The difference of the two versions is mainly in the support for larger data carriers. The older FAT16 is able to manage 65.536 cluster, FAT32 is able to handle 268435456 Cluster (2 to the power of 28).


Festplatte
Die Festplatte ist ein interner Datenträger im Computer. Man unterscheidet nach den Größen der Gehäuse in 2,5" (hauptsächlich für Notebooks) und 3,5" Festplatten. Festplatten bestehen aus mehreren dünnen magnetischen Scheiben, die von einem Schreib- / Lesekopf magnetisch beschrieben werden. Dabei werden je nach Information (Binärdaten haben nur zwei Werte: eins oder null) die Magnetpartikel in die eine oder andere Richtung polarisiert.


FDDI Netzwerk
Fiber Distributed Data Interface, Netzwerk auf Glasfaserbasis, das mit 100 Megabits pro Sekunde zirka zehnmal mehr Bandbreite als EtherNet erreicht. Die elektrischen Impulse werden mit LEDs in Lichtsignale umgewandelt und mit Hilfe von Fotozellen in elektronische Signale zurückübersetzt.


File Extension
The file extension usually consists of three letters, added to the file's name with a dot. Example of a picture in JPEG format: BILD.JPG


File System
The file system defines how the PC saves data to storage media such as hard drives. Under Windows ME and its forerunners the system is called FAT. Windows NT and XP additionally know the safer system NTFS.


Firewall
A firewall is intended to save the computer which is connected to the internet from unauthorized access, just like a firewall in a building.


Firewire
FireWire technology, als know as i.link or IEEE 1394, is a serial interface for data transmission between computers and video devices.


Flatrate
Independently from the amount a fixed monthly fee is payed. This is mostly common for internet access and telephony. Similar offers exist in the mobile telephone system since 2005.


Floppy Disc
The floppy disc is a data carrier which is based upon the same storage principle as the hard drive. A magnetic disc is being polarised by a writing/reading head in two directions, depending on the data.


Font
A style of lettering.


Formatting
Formatting of a hard drive or HDD means the deletion of all data. Tips for formatting.


FPU
Floating Point Unit, additional processor or part of the main processor which is responsible for the calculation of floating point operations. This results in load relieving og the main processor as well as the MMU.


Fractal Compression
A method originally developed by the american mathematics professors Michael F. Barnsley and Alan D. Sloan to reduce the amount of data by describing an image with forms of the fractal geometry. This is the basis of the probably most important compression methods of the future.


FTP
The File Transfer Protocol is the protocol to send data within the internet. There are FTP servers whose address starts with ftp:// instead of http://.