Wire

A single strand of metal capable of transmitting power or data from one side of the wire to the other. These wires are almost always protected in a plastic covering that is sometimes color coded to help identify each wire on each end of a cable.

Also see: Cable, Cord, Electronics definitions, Wire strippers

Vacuum tube

A glass tube that has had all gas has been removed creating a vacuum. Vacuum tubes contain electrodes for controlling electron flow and were commonly used in early computers as a switch or an amplifier. To the right is a collection of different types of vacuum tubes to give you a better understanding of what these look like. Today, vacuum tubes are no longer used and have been replaced by transistors in computers.
 
Also see: Electronics definitions, Nixie tube

Transient

1. In general, transient refers to something that is not permanent.
2. In electronics, transient refers to an unexpected increase in the current or voltage.
3. When referring to memory, transient memory is memory that temporarily holds data while it is being used and when the computer is on.
4. When referring to Java, transient is a field that is not part of an object.

Also see: Electronics definitions

Transformer

Set of coils wound around a core, usually made of iron generating a magnetic field, that creates energy between the coils. Transformers are used to step up or down electrical currents.

Also see: Electronics definitions, Power definitions

Signal

1. In electronics, a signal is an electrical pulse that is used as a method of transmitting data.
2. When referring to communications, a signal is an indication that a device is capable of reaching the destination.

Also see: Data signal, Digital signal

Resistors

One of the most commonly found components in an electronic circuit. Resistors help restrict and impede a current flow.

Also see: Circuit, Electronics definitions

PCB

Short for Printed Circuit Board, PCB is a board made of plastic or fiberglass designed to hold electronic circuits, ICs, switches and other components. A good example of a PCB found in all computers today is the computer motherboard.

Also see: Circuit, Electronics definitions, IC

PAD

1. When referring to a network, PAD, short for Packet Assembly and Disassembly, is a device or a feature of a device capable of converting from one type of packet into another.
2. In electronics, PAD is the end location of a circuit line or trace.

Also see: Electronics definitions, Network definitions, Packet

Optoelectronics

A field that deals with and studies both optical and electronics, not just one or the other.

Also see: Electronic definitions

Multimeter

Also known as a VOM or Volt-Ohm-Meter, a multimeter is a device used to test and measure current, voltage, and resistance. To the right is an example of what an analog multimeter looks like. After the proper power setting has been set connecting the multimeter to the power source will display the detected current.

Also see: Electronics definitions, Power definitions

MOSFET

Short for Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor, MOSFET is a transistor made with metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) technology.

Also see: Electronics definitions, MOS

Moore's Law

The observation made by Gordon Moore in the April 19, 1965 paper "Cramming More Components Onto Integrated Circuits" that was later coined by the press as Moore's Law. The observation is that ever since the Integrated Circuit has been developed, the amount of transistors has doubled per square inch. Dr. Gordon Moore admitted that his law is expected to reach its physical limits in the year 2017.
 
Also see: Electronics definitions, Metcalfe's Law, Processor definitions

Medium scale integration

Type of integrated circuit that contains between 30 and 1,000 electronic components on a single chip.

Also see: Electronics definitions, Large scale integration

Logic gate

A computer circuit that performs the logic functions AND, NAND, NOR, NOT, OR, XNOR, and XOR.

Also see: Electronics definitions

LED

Short for Light-Emitting Diode, LED is a special type of semiconductor that illuminates when an electrical charge passes through it. LEDs are commonly green or red; however can be an assortment of other colors. A good example of a LED is the led status indicators on your keyboard for Num lock, Caps lock and Scroll Lock as shown in the below picture. In this pciture the blue LED is lit on the keyboard to indicate the Num Lock is enabled.

Also see: Access light, Amber, Electronics definitions, Green, OLED, Orange, Red

LCC

Short for Leadless Chip Carrier, LCC is a method for socket designed to allow an individual to easily place a chip on a circuit board. Below is an illustration of an LCC.

Also see: Electronics definitions, PLCC

Large-scale integration

Computer chip that contains between 100 and 5,000 circuit elements.

Also see: Electronics definitions, Medium scale integration, Very large-scale integration

Jumper

Jumpers allow the computer to close an electrical circuit, allowing the electricity to flow throughout certain sections of the circuit board. Jumpers consist of a set of small pins that can be covered with a small plastic box as shown in the illustration to the right. Below the illustration is a picture of what the jumpers may look like. In this example, the jumpers have a small tab on top of them allowing them to be easily removed.
Jumpers are used to configure the settings for computer peripherals such as the motherboard, hard drives, modems, sound cards, and various other components.
Today, most users will not have to adjust or change the jumpers on their motherboard and will often only need to change the jumpers for a new hard disk drive. As can be seen in the below picture most hard disk drives with jumpers will have 3 sets of two pins or six pins and moving the jumper block will change the drive from master drive, slave drive, or cable select.

Note: When changing the jumpers on any device, the device and your computer should be turned off first. In addition whenever inside the computer you should always be aware of ESD

Also see: Dip switch, Electronic definitions, Jump
.

IR

1. Short for Information Retrieval, IR is the method of locating and displaying information on a computer.
2. IR is also short for infrared.

Also see: Electronics definitions, Infrared

Insulator

A material that resists or prevents the carrying of electricity, heat, or sound. Some examples of electricity insulators are glass and most types of rubber.

Also see: Electronics definitions, Power definitions, Sound definitions