Glossary
Other Technical Dictionaries/Glossaries
Acronym Glossary CNET Internet Glossary ILC Glossary of Internet Terms OneLook Dictionaries
Nanosecond One billionth of a second.
National Information Infrastructure (NII) Refers to a futuristic network of high-speed data communications links that eventually will connect virtually every facet of our society. See also information superhighway.
Natural language A programming language in which the programmer writes specifications without regard to the computer's instruction format or syntax--essentially, using everyday human language to program.
Navigation Movement within and between a software application's work areas.
Net PC Same as network computer (NC).
Network, computer See computer network.
Network address An electronic identifier assigned to each computer system and terminal/PC in a computer network.
Network administrator A data communications specialists who designs and maintains local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).
Network bus A common cable in a bus topology which permits the connection of terminals, peripheral devices, and microcomputers to create and computer network.
Network computer (NC) A single-user computer, usually diskless, that is designed to work with a server computer to obtain programs and data (also called Net PC).
Network interface card (NIC) A PC expansion card or PCMCIA card that facilitates and controls the exchange of data between the PC and its network.
Network topology The configuration of the interconnections between the nodes in a communications network.
Neural network A field of artificial intelligence in which millions of chips (processing elements) are interconnected to enable computers to imitate the way the human brain works.
Newsgroup Internet-based electronic discussion groups.
Node An endpoint in a computer network.
Non-Windows application A computer application that will run under Windows but does not conform to the Common User Access (CUA) standards.
Nondestructive read A read operation in which the program and/or data that are loaded to RAM from secondary storage reside in both RAM (temporarily) and secondary storage (permanently).
Nonimpact printer A printer that uses chemicals, lasers, or heat to form the images on the paper.
Nonprogrammed decision A decision that involves an ill-defined and unstructured problem (also called information-based decision).
Nonvolatile memory Solid-state RAM that retains its contents after an electrical interruption. (Contrast with volatile memory.)
Notebook PC A notebook-size laptop PC.
NuBus The architecture of high-end Apple Macintosh computers.
Numeric A reference to any of the digits 0-9. (Compare with alpha and alphanumeric.)
Numeric key pad An input device that permits rapid numeric data entry.