Technical Support
Terms related to computer fundamentals, including computer hardware definitions and words and phrases about software, operating systems, peripherals and troubleshooting.QUE - ROM
- queries-per-second (QPS) - Queries-per-second (QPS) (or the query-per-second rate) is a measure of how much traffic a particular query server is handling at a given time.
- queue - In general, a queue is a line of people or things waiting to be handled, usually in sequential order starting at the beginning or top of the line or sequence.
- queueing theory - In computer science, queueing theory is the study of queues as a technique for managing processes and objects in a computer.
- quiet zone - In barcode technology, a quiet zone is the blank margin on either side of a bar code that's used to tell the barcode reader where a barcode's symbology starts and stops.
- Quiz: Talkin' tech turkey - A quiz full of tasty tech terms.
- Quiz: Who Done IT? A Murder Mystery - How to take the quiz: - After reading the question, click on the answer that you think is correct.
- radian - The radian is the Standard International (SI) unit of plane angular measure.
- radian per second (rad/s or rad/sec) - The radian per second (symbolized rad/s or rad/sec) is the Standard International (SI) unit of angular (rotational) speed.
- radian per second squared - The radian per second squared is the unit of angular (rotational) acceleration magnitude in the International System of Units (SI).
- random numbers - Random numbers are numbers that occur in a sequence such that two conditions are met: ( the values are uniformly distributed over a defined interval or set, and (2) it is impossible to predict future values based on past or present ones.
- raster graphics - Raster graphics are digital images created or captured (for example, by scanning in a photo) as a set of samples of a given space.
- ratio - In general, a ratio is a way of concisely showing the relationship between two quantities of something.
- rational number - A rational number is a number determined by the ratio of some integer p to some nonzero natural number q.
- raw data (source data or atomic data) - Raw data (sometimes called source data or atomic data) is data that has not been processed for meaningful use.
- read-only - Read-only is a file attribute which only allows a user to view a file, restricting any writing to the file.
- read-only memory (ROM) - Read-only memory, or ROM, is a type of computer storage containing non-volatile, permanent data that, normally, can only be read, not written to.
- real number - A real number is any element of the set R, which is the union of the set of rational numbers and the set of irrational numbers.
- real time - Real time is a level of computer responsiveness that a user senses as sufficiently immediate or that enables the computer to keep up with some external process (for example, to present visualizations of the weather as it constantly changes).
- real-time monitoring - Real-time (data) monitoring is the delivery of continuously updated information streaming at zero or low latency.
- Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper - Grace Murray Hopper (1906-1992) was a pioneer in computer science.
- reboot (warm boot, cold boot) - To reboot is to restart a computer and reload the operating system.
- refresh - In a computer display, to refresh is to redraw the image information from memory.
- reliability - Reliability is an attribute of any computer-related component (software, or hardware, or a network, for example) that consistently performs according to its specifications.
- reload - In computers, to reload is to start a program over again, usually because it has crashed or because it has begun to display aberrant behavior.
- remote-control software - Remote-control software is programming in a central or server computer that is used to control other computers (or their users) at a distance, either under the control of an administrator or at the request of the user.
- replicator - A replicator is an object or organism that can make copies of itself.
- request for quotation (RFQ) - A request for quotation (RFQ) is a document that an organization submits to one or more potential suppliers eliciting quotations for a product or service.
- reseller - In information technology, a reseller is a company that typically purchases IT products or services from a product manufacturer, distributor or service provider and then markets them to customers.
- resolution - In computers, resolution is the number of pixels (individual points of color) contained on a display monitor, expressed in terms of the number of pixels on the horizontal axis and the number on the vertical axis.
- response time - According to the IBM Dictionary of Computing (which cites International Organization for Standardization Information Technology Vocabulary as the source), response time is: The elapsed time between the end of an inquiry or demand on a computer system and the beginning of a response; for example, the length of the time between an indication of the end of an inquiry and the display of the first character of the response at a user terminal.
- return merchandise authorization (RMA) - An RMA (return merchandise authorization) is a numbered authorization provided by a mail-order merchant to permit the return of a product.
- reverse engineering - Reverse engineering is taking apart an object to see how it works in order to duplicate or enhance the object.
- RGB (red, green, and blue) - RGB (red, green, and blue) refers to a system for representing the colors to be used on a computer display.
- robot - A robot is a machine designed to execute one or more tasks automatically with speed and precision.
- robotics - Robotics is a branch of engineering that involves the conception, design, manufacture, and operation of robots.
- RoC (restart on crash) - RoC (restart on crash) is a functionality built into Windows that automatically restarts an operating system or application when it hangs, freezes or crashes.
- rogue - In general, a rogue is someone who strays from the accepted path, is mischievous, or is a cheat.
- ROI (return on investment) - For a given use of money in an enterprise, the ROI (return on investment) is how much profit or cost saving is realized as a result.
- ROM emulation - ROM emulation is the process of copying data from a ROM (read-only memory) chip to a storage medium such as a hard disk or flash memory.