hard copy Printed computer output, differing from the data stored on disk or in memory.
hard disk A storage medium that uses several rigid disks (platters) coated with a magnetically sensitive material and housed in a hermetically sealed mechanism.
hard disk interface An electronic standard for the connection of a hard disk to a computer.
hardware The electronic components, boards, peripherals, and equipment that make up a computer.
hashing The process in which the position of a record is determined through the use of a mathematical computation to produce an address where the unique key field is stored.
head-mounted display (HMD) A set of head-mounted goggles that is an integral part of virtual reality systems and enables users to feel as if they are exploring a real world created within a computer system.
hierarchical database A database that links data using a hierarchical relationship. The data element at the top of the hierarchy is known as the parent element, and there may be several child elements beneath the parent element. The structure that is created resembles a pyramid or an organizational chart.
hierarchy chart The design tool that shows the top-down design of a program; also called a structure chart.
high-density disk A floppy disk that can store 1M or more of data.
high-level language A programming language, such as C, that crudely resembles human language.
hit In an online search, items that are returned that match your search terms.
home page In a hypertext system (like the World Wide Web), the point of entry to a group of related documents. Also called a welcome page, the home page contains introductory information as well as hyperlinks to related resources.
host computer The computer responsible for managing the network.
host processor A processor responsible for controlling all peripheral devices as well as the mathematical operations of a network.
Human Genome Project A research project seeking to map the genetic plan of a human being.
hyperlink An active visual link that enables the user to move from the current location in the hypertext document to another section or to a separate hypertext document and location.
hypermedia A hypertext system that enables the user to navigate through graphics, sound, animation, and video to find data related to a topic. In a hypermedia system, such as the World Wide Web, you click underlined words in a document to access other resources on other computers.
hypermedia system A hypertext system that enables the user to navigate through graphics, sound, animation, and video to find data related to a topic. In a hypermedia system, such as the World Wide Web, you click underlined words in a document to access other resources on other computers.
hypermedia/hypermedia system A hypertext system that enables the user to navigate through graphics, sound, animation, and video to find data related to a topic. In a hypermedia system, such as the World Wide Web, you click underlined words in a document to access other resources on other computers.
hypertext The nonsequential retrieval of a document's text. The reader pursues trails through the document by means of links.
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) A language designed to transmit documents that can contain different media formats in the same document: text, graphics, movies, sounds, and hypertext links to other documents and resources.
HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) The rules, or protocol, of the World Wide Web. HTTP is the Internet standard that supports the exchange of information on the Web. HTTP enables Web authors to embed hyperlinks in Web documents.
Hytelnet A tool that helps you access various sites through Telnet.