CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+): key terms

Flashcards for this exam CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) guide

• 32-bit vs 64-bitThe register and addressing width of a CPU or OS, which determines addressable memory and software compatibility.Foundational
• AndroidGoogle's Linux-based open-source mobile operating system used by many device manufacturers.Foundational
• ARM ArchitectureA reduced instruction set (RISC) processor architecture used in phones, tablets, Apple Silicon Macs, and Windows on Arm PCs.Foundational
• Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)Legacy PC firmware that tests hardware at power-on and loads the boot loader.Foundational
• Bits per Second (bps)The unit for data rate on networks, scaled as Kbps, Mbps, Gbps and Tbps using powers of 1000.Foundational
• Bus TopologyA topology in which all devices share a single backbone cable terminated at both ends.Foundational
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)The main processor that fetches, decodes, and executes program instructions in a computer.Foundational
• ChromeOSGoogle's lightweight, cloud-focused operating system for Chromebooks.Foundational
• Class A AddressAn IPv4 address with first octet 1-126 (leading bit 0) and a default mask of 255.0.0.0 (/8).Foundational
• Class B AddressAn IPv4 address with first octet 128-191 (leading bits 10) and a default mask of 255.255.0.0 (/16).Foundational
• Class C AddressAn IPv4 address with first octet 192-223 (leading bits 110) and a default mask of 255.255.255.0 (/24).Foundational
• Client-Server ModelA model in which centralized servers provide resources and services to client devices.Foundational
• Clock SpeedThe rate at which a CPU core executes cycles, measured in gigahertz (GHz).Foundational
• Command Prompt (cmd)The traditional Windows command-line interpreter.Foundational
• Control PanelThe legacy Windows settings interface with applets for system configuration.Foundational
• CPU CoreAn independent processing unit within a CPU that can execute its own instruction stream.Foundational
• Dedicated Graphics Card (dGPU)A separate expansion card or chip with its own GPU and video memory (VRAM) for graphics and compute.Foundational
• Default GatewayThe router address a host sends traffic to when the destination is on a different subnet.Foundational
• Device ManagerA Windows console (devmgmt.msc) for viewing hardware and managing device drivers.Foundational
• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)Broadband Internet over telephone copper pairs, using frequencies above voice so phone service can share the line.Foundational
• Display ResolutionThe number of pixels a display shows horizontally and vertically, such as 1920 x 1080.Foundational
• Domain Name System (DNS)The hierarchical, distributed system that translates domain names into IP addresses and other records, using UDP and TCP port 53.Foundational
• Dotted-Decimal NotationThe format for writing IPv4 addresses as four decimal numbers (0-255) separated by periods.Foundational
• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)A protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and other configuration to hosts, using UDP ports 67 (server) and 68 (client).Foundational
• Dynamic IP AddressAn IP address automatically assigned to a device, usually by DHCP, for a limited lease period.Foundational
• Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)The sudden flow of static electricity between objects that can damage electronic components.Foundational
• EthernetThe dominant wired LAN technology, standardized as IEEE 802.3, defining framing, MAC addressing and physical media from 10 Mbps to 800 Gbps.Foundational
• File Allocation Table 32 (FAT32)A legacy file system with broad compatibility but a 4 GB maximum file size.Foundational
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)A protocol for transferring files that uses TCP port 21 for control and port 20 (active mode) or a negotiated port (passive mode) for data.Foundational
• FirewallA device or software that permits or denies traffic between networks or hosts according to a security policy.Foundational
• FirmwareLow-level software stored in non-volatile memory that controls hardware and initializes devices.Foundational
• Flash DriveA portable USB storage device that uses NAND flash memory.Foundational
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD)A storage device that records data magnetically on spinning platters read by moving heads.Foundational
• High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)A digital audio/video interface standard for TVs, monitors, projectors, and computers.Foundational
• HubA legacy Layer 1 device that repeats incoming signals out every other port, creating a single shared collision domain.Foundational
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)The Application-layer request-response protocol for the web, using TCP port 80 by default.Foundational
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)HTTP carried inside TLS encryption, using TCP port 443 by default (and UDP 443 for HTTP/3).Foundational
• Integrated Graphics (iGPU)A graphics processor built into the CPU or SoC that uses shared system memory.Foundational
• Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)An email retrieval protocol that keeps messages on the server and synchronizes them across clients, using TCP 143 (or 993 with TLS).Foundational
• Internet Protocol (IP)The connectionless Layer 3 protocol that addresses and routes packets across interconnected networks.Foundational
• Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4)The fourth version of IP, using 32-bit addresses written in dotted-decimal notation, defined in RFC 791.Foundational
• Internet Service Provider (ISP)A company that provides Internet access and related services to customers.Foundational
• iOSApple's mobile operating system for iPhone, with iPadOS as a tablet-focused variant.Foundational
• IP AddressA logical Layer 3 address that identifies a network interface and its network for routing purposes.Foundational
• IP Configuration Command (ipconfig)The Windows command that displays and manages IP configuration.Foundational
• Linux DistributionA complete operating system built on the Linux kernel with packaging, tools, and desktop environments.Foundational
• Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)A flat-panel display that uses liquid crystals and a backlight to produce images.Foundational
• Local Area Network (LAN)A network covering a limited area such as a home, office or building, usually owned and managed by one organization.Foundational
• LocalhostThe hostname that resolves to the local machine's loopback address, 127.0.0.1 or ::1.Foundational
• Loopback AddressAn address that refers to the local host itself; 127.0.0.0/8 in IPv4 (usually 127.0.0.1) and ::1 in IPv6.Foundational
• MAC AddressA 48-bit Layer 2 address that identifies a network interface on a local network, written as 12 hexadecimal digits.Foundational
• macOSApple's desktop operating system for Mac computers, built on a Unix-based (Darwin) foundation.Foundational
• Mesh TopologyA topology in which devices have multiple interconnections, providing redundant paths.Foundational
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)A network spanning a city or metropolitan area, larger than a campus but smaller than a WAN.Foundational
• Mobile DeviceA portable computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or wearable.Foundational
• ModemA device that modulates digital data onto an analog carrier and demodulates it back, connecting a customer network to a provider medium.Foundational
• MotherboardThe main circuit board that connects the CPU, memory, storage, expansion cards, and I/O.Foundational
• Name Server Lookup (nslookup)A command-line tool on Windows, Linux and macOS for querying DNS servers.Foundational
• Network Interface Card (NIC)The hardware that connects a device to a network, providing a physical connection and a MAC address.Foundational
• Network TopologyThe arrangement of nodes and links in a network, described physically (cabling) or logically (data flow).Foundational
• OctetA group of 8 bits; an IPv4 address contains four octets.Foundational
• Packet Internet Groper (ping)A command that tests IP reachability and round-trip time by sending ICMP Echo Requests and waiting for Echo Replies.Foundational
• Peer-to-Peer Network (P2P)A network in which devices share resources directly with each other without a dedicated central server.Foundational
• Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)An email retrieval protocol that downloads messages from a server to a client, using TCP 110 (or 995 with TLS).Foundational
• Power Supply Unit (PSU)The component that converts AC wall power to regulated DC voltages for computer components.Foundational
• Private IP AddressIPv4 addresses reserved by RFC 1918 for internal use: 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12 and 192.168.0.0/16.Foundational
• Public IP AddressA globally unique, Internet-routable IP address assigned by an ISP or registry.Foundational
• Random Access Memory (RAM)Volatile working memory that holds the OS, running programs, and active data for fast CPU access.Foundational
• Read-Only Memory (ROM)Non-volatile memory that retains data without power; on PCs it historically stored firmware.Foundational
• Registered Jack 11 (RJ11)A six-position modular connector, usually wired with two or four contacts, used for analog telephone lines and DSL.Foundational
• Registered Jack 45 (RJ45)The common name for the eight-position, eight-contact (8P8C) modular connector used on Ethernet twisted-pair cables.Foundational
• Ring TopologyA topology in which each device connects to two neighbors, forming a closed loop through which data travels.Foundational
• RouterA Layer 3 device that forwards packets between different IP networks based on destination IP address and its routing table.Foundational
• Satellite InternetInternet access delivered via communication satellites, useful in remote areas without terrestrial service.Foundational
• Screen LockA device setting that requires authentication to unlock after inactivity or on demand.Foundational
• Secure Digital Card (SD)A removable flash memory card format used in cameras, drones, and some laptops and phones.Foundational
• Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)The protocol for sending email and relaying it between mail servers, using TCP port 25 (server-to-server) and 587 (client submission).Foundational
• Software LicensingThe legal terms governing how software can be installed and used.Foundational
• Solid-State Drive (SSD)A storage device using NAND flash memory with no moving parts, offering fast access and low latency.Foundational
• Star TopologyA topology in which every node connects to a central device such as a switch.Foundational
• Static IP AddressAn IP address manually configured on a device that does not change unless an administrator changes it.Foundational
• Subnet MaskA 32-bit value with contiguous 1 bits marking the network portion of an IPv4 address and 0 bits marking the host portion.Foundational
• Surge ProtectorA power strip or device that diverts voltage spikes away from connected equipment.Foundational
• SwitchA Layer 2 device that forwards frames to specific ports based on destination MAC addresses it has learned.Foundational
• Task ManagerA Windows utility that shows running processes, performance, startup apps, users, and services.Foundational
• Top-Level Domain (TLD)The last label in a domain name, such as .com, .org or a country code such as .uk.Foundational
• TracerouteA tool that discovers the routers along the path to a destination by sending probes with increasing TTL values.Foundational
• Universal Serial Bus (USB)The standard interface for connecting peripherals, storage, and charging to computers and mobile devices.Foundational
• Video Graphics Array (VGA)A legacy analog video connector (DE-15, three rows of 15 pins) for monitors and projectors.Foundational
• WebcamA camera built into or attached to a computer for video calls and recording.Foundational
• Well-Known PortsPorts 0-1023, assigned by IANA to common system services such as HTTP, SSH and DNS.Foundational
• Wide Area Network (WAN)A network spanning large geographic areas, connecting LANs across cities, countries or continents, usually over provider services.Foundational
• Windows 11Microsoft's current desktop operating system, requiring TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot capability, and a supported 64-bit CPU.Foundational
• Windows SettingsThe modern Windows configuration app for system, devices, network, accounts, privacy, and updates.Foundational
• x86-64 Architecture (x64)The 64-bit extension of the x86 instruction set used by most Intel and AMD PC processors.Foundational