IEEE Std 610.10-1994 IEEE Standard Glossary of Computer Hardware Terminology Sponsor Standards Coordinating Committee of the IEEE Computer Society ‘Approved June 14, 1994 IEEE Standards Board Abstract: Terms pertaining to computer hardware are defined. Terms falling under the categories of computer architecture, computer storage, general hardware concepts, peripherals, and proces- sors and components are included, Keywords: computer, hardware, definition, glossary, terminology ‘This standard ison of 1 number of information technology dictionaries developed by standards organizations acered ted bythe American Notional Standards natitute, These Gctonaries an developed under the ponaarthip of voluntary andards organizations, using @consensts-Bosed proces ‘Too Intute of Eletical and Electonics Enginers tc. ‘345 East 47h Soot Now York,NY 10017-2398, USA (Gopyright © 1985 by the Insite of Elctical and Electronics Enginoer ne ‘Ateghts rserved. Published 1996, Pad inthe Ute States of Amorca, ISON 1-55097-4025 ‘No part of his publication may bo reproduced in ay fr, an electronic ratevalsystam or others, without th prior ‘wien permission of ha pubicherIEEE Standards documents are developed within the Technical Committees of the IEE Societies and the Standards Coondinating Committees of the IEEE Standards Board. Members of the committees serve voluntarily and without compensation ‘They are not necessarily members ofthe Institue. The standards developed within IEEE representa consensus of the broad expertise on the subject within the Institute as well as those activities outside of IEEE that have expressed an interest in partci- ting inthe development of the standard Use of an IEEE Standard is wholly voluntary. The existence of an IEEE Standard ‘does not imply that there are no other ways to produce, (est, measure, purchase, mar- ket, or provide other goods and services related to the scope of the IEEE Standard. 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Their approval by the Institue of Electical and Electronics Engineers does not mean that using such technology forthe purpose of conforming to such standards is authorized by the patent owner. Its the obligation ofthe user of such technology to obtain all necessary permissions.Introduction (This ineoducson is nts par of IEEE Std 610.10-1994, IEEE Standard Glossary of Computer Hardware Terminology.) ‘As the computer field continues to expand, new terms are being generated and new meanings are being adopted for existing terms. The IEEE Computer Dictionary project (the 610 computer glossary series of doc- ‘uments) was undertaken to document this vocabulary. Its purpose is to identify terms currently in use in the ‘computer field and to establish standard definitions for these terms, The dictionary is intended to serve as a useful reference for those in the computer field and for those who come into contact with computers, either ‘through their work or in their everyday lives ‘The completed dictionary will contain terms from cach of the following areas: Computer Hardware, Soft ware Engineering, Mathematics of Computing, Theory of Computation, Computer Applications, Amifical Intelligence, Data Management, Image Processing and Pattern Recognition, Modeling and Simulation, Computer Graphics, Computer Networking, Computer Languages, and Computer Security and Privacy. ‘This glossary contains the terms related to Computer Hardware Every effort has been made to use definitions from established standards in this dictionary. When existing standards were found to be incomplete, unclear, or inconsistent with other entries inthe dictionary, however, 1new, revised, or composite definitions have been developed. At the time this glossary was approved, the following people formed the steering committee of the Com- puter Dictionary working group: Anne K. Geracl, Leader, Computer Hardware Subgroup Paul C. Wilson, Co-Leader, Computer Hardware Subgroup Other subgroup leaders were as follows: Jack Aldridge Louse MeMon Jane Radate Jon B Lane Penns Reyer Frederick N. Springstee Frony A. Kati High 1 Porson Mary Yes (Other working group members who contsbuted to this glossary were as follows: Berlack, H. Ronald ae Dana ‘Sonja Peterson Shick 4. David Bezek John A. Goetz Fermin Trujillo Kenny A. Chaffin Gary W. Kowalski Gharlote Wing Wales sefivey T,Delargy tiem G. Mallch Elizabeth L, Wendling Philip M. Mitchell ‘The following persons were on the balloting committee: Jim Barbers “Thomas M, Kurihara Fritz Whitington Pletcher Buckley John B. Lane SJanuse Zalewski Goorge Carson Bennett Meyer Frank Jay Gordon Force Klaus Dicer Mueller Louise MeMonegal Joba A. Goets ‘Mica Pauker High L. Porteous Herbert Hecht Jane Radar Stewart Saphior Sdy 5. Kerner Paul Wilson