Domain Breakdown & Study Guide
Input – Answer The process of entering data into a computer system.
Processing – Answer The manipulation of data by a computer to produce meaningful
information.
Output – Answer The result produced by a computer after processing data.
Storage – Answer The component of a computer that holds data and information for
future use.
Binary – Answer A base-2 numeral system that uses two symbols, typically 0 and 1.
Hexadecimal – Answer A base-16 numeral system that uses sixteen distinct
symbols, 0-9 and A-F.
Decimal – Answer A base-10 numeral system that uses ten distinct symbols, 0-9.
Octal – Answer A base-8 numeral system that uses eight distinct symbols, 0-7.
Processing speed – Answer Measured in Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz),
indicating the number of cycles per second a processor can execute.
,Throughput unit – Answer Measured in Bits per second (bps), Kilobits per second
(Kbps), Megabits per second (Mbps), Gigabits per second (Gbps), or Terabytes per second
(Tbps).
Storage unit – Answer Includes Bit, Byte, Kilobyte (KB), Megabyte (MB), Gigabyte
(GB), Terabyte (TB), and Petabyte (PB).
Troubleshooting methodology – Answer A systematic approach to resolving issues,
including identifying the problem, establishing a theory of probable cause, testing the
theory, establishing a plan of action, verifying functionality, and documenting findings.
Common computing devices – Answer Devices such as thermostats, security
systems, home assistants, deadbolts, video doorbells, vehicles, IP/security cameras,
streaming media devices, medical devices, exercise equipment, wearable devices,
smartphones, tablets, e-readers, laptops, workstations, servers, gaming consoles, virtual
reality systems, augmented reality systems, and IoT devices.
Internal computing components – Answer Includes storage, network interface card
(NIC), motherboard/system board, firmware/BIOS, RAM, CPU, and GPU.
Storage types – Answer Includes optical storage, external flash drives, local network
storage (NAS, file server, cloud storage), volatile vs. Non-volatile storage, and local storage
(RAM, ROM, HDD, SSD, NVMe).
Peripheral devices – Answer Devices such as smart TVs, projectors, monitors,
uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, web cameras,
external drives, and speakers/headsets.
Installation types – Answer Includes plug-n-play vs. Driver installation and other
required steps for configuring devices.
,Input/output device interfaces – Answer Common types of interfaces used for
connecting input and output devices to a computer.
Networking – Answer The practice of connecting computers and other devices to
share resources.
Wired – Answer A type of networking that uses physical cables to connect devices.
Ethernet connector (RJ45) – Answer A standard connector used for wired networking.
Fiber connector small form-factor pluggable (SFP) – Answer A compact, hot-
pluggable transceiver used in optical networking.
Wireless – Answer A type of networking that uses radio waves to connect devices
without physical cables.
Bluetooth – Answer A wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short
distances.
Near-field communication (NFC) – Answer A set of communication protocols for
communication between devices over a short distance.
802.11X – Answer A set of standards for wireless local area networks (WLANs).
Networking devices and tools – Answer Equipment used to facilitate networking,
such as crimpers and cable testers.
, Crimpers – Answer Tools used to attach connectors to cables.
Cable testers – Answer Devices used to test the integrity of cables.
Peripheral devices – Answer External devices that connect to a computer, such as
USB and Thunderbolt devices.
USB (A/B/C) – Answer Universal Serial Bus standards for connecting peripherals to
computers.
Thunderbolt – Answer A hardware interface that allows the connection of external
peripherals to a computer.
Radio frequency (RF) – Answer Electromagnetic waves used for wireless
communication.
Lightning – Answer A proprietary connector used by Apple for connecting devices.
Display ports – Answer Interfaces used to connect a display to a computer.
Video Graphics Array (VGA) – Answer An analog interface used for connecting video
display devices.
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) – Answer A digital interface used to connect video
display devices.