6 min readConcept sheetFull-form and matching MCQs
ICT abbreviations and terminology
Know the full forms and what each does: hardware and software, memory units, and the protocols (HTTP, TCP/IP, SMTP) that make the internet work.
1 byte8 bits (4 bits = 1 nibble)
1 KB1,024 bytes (2^10)
RAM vs ROMVolatile vs non-volatile
IPv4 vs IPv632-bit vs 128-bit addresses
Common abbreviations
| Short form | Full form |
|---|---|
| ICT | Information and Communication Technology |
| CPU / ALU | Central Processing Unit / Arithmetic Logic Unit |
| RAM / ROM | Random Access Memory / Read-Only Memory |
| BIOS | Basic Input/Output System |
| OS / GUI | Operating System / Graphical User Interface |
| ASCII | American Standard Code for Information Interchange |
| USB | Universal Serial Bus |
| MODEM | Modulator-Demodulator |
| LAN / MAN / WAN | Local / Metropolitan / Wide Area Network |
| ISP | Internet Service Provider |
| TCP / IP | Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol |
| DNS | Domain Name System |
| URL | Uniform Resource Locator |
| WWW | World Wide Web |
| HTML | HyperText Markup Language |
| HTTP / HTTPS | HyperText Transfer Protocol / HTTP Secure |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol |
| SMTP / POP3 / IMAP | Simple Mail Transfer Protocol / Post Office Protocol 3 / Internet Message Access Protocol |
| VoIP | Voice over Internet Protocol |
| PDF / JPEG / GIF | Portable Document Format / Joint Photographic Experts Group / Graphics Interchange Format |
| OCR / OMR / MICR | Optical Character Recognition / Optical Mark Recognition / Magnetic Ink Character Recognition |
| MOOC / LMS | Massive Open Online Course / Learning Management System |
| IoT / AI / VPN | Internet of Things / Artificial Intelligence / Virtual Private Network |
Memory units
Bit0 or 1, the smallest unit
Nibble4 bits
Byte8 bits
Kilobyte (KB)1,024 bytes
Megabyte (MB)1,024 KB
Gigabyte (GB)1,024 MB
Terabyte (TB) → Petabyte (PB)1,024 GB → 1,024 TB
Pairs that are often confused
RAMWorking memory. Volatile: loses its contents when power is off. Read and write.
ROMStores start-up instructions such as the BIOS. Non-volatile: keeps contents without power.
System softwareRuns the computer itself: operating system, device drivers, compilers.
Application softwareDoes the user's task: word processor, browser, spreadsheet, statistics package.
Worked example: decimal to binary
Problem
Convert decimal 25 to binary.
Working
- 25 ÷ 2 = 12, remainder 1
- 12 ÷ 2 = 6, remainder 0
- 6 ÷ 2 = 3, remainder 0
- 3 ÷ 2 = 1, remainder 1
- 1 ÷ 2 = 0, remainder 1
- Read the remainders from bottom to top: 11001. Check: 16 + 8 + 1 = 25.
Answer
11001
How NET asks this: expand an abbreviation, match terms with full forms, order memory units by size, or convert a small decimal number to binary.
Typical MCQ: “What is the binary equivalent of decimal 13?” 1101, since 8 + 4 + 1 = 13.
Typical MCQ: “Which memory loses its contents when the power is switched off?” RAM, because it is volatile. ROM keeps its contents.
King Midas Gave Treasure Proudly: KB → MB → GB → TB → PB, each 1,024 times the one before.