ABI

Application binary interface.

A list associated with an object that identifies who can access the object and how the object can be accessed (for example read-only or write-only access).

Access control list.

The window that a user is currently interacting with. The window that is active has a highlighted border and title bar. Contrast with inactive window.

IBM's implementation of the UNIX** operating system.

Advanced Interactive Executive.

An alternate label, or name; for example, a name and one or more aliases may be used to refer to the same file. (A)

Any operating mode, or personality, in an environment that supports multiple operating modes, other than the dominant personality. An alternate personality does not control the desktop on display screens. The MVM Personality is an example of an alternate personality.

The standard code, using a coded character set consisting of 7-bit coded characters (8-bit including parity check), that is used for information interchange among data processing systems, data communication systems, and associated equipment. The ASCII set consists of control characters and graphic characters. (A)

An organization consisting of producers, consumers, and general interest groups, that establishes the procedures by which accredited organizations create and maintain voluntary industry standards in the United States. (A)

American National Standards Institute.

Application programming interface.

Advanced Power Management.

(1) The use to which an information processing system is put, for example, a payroll application, an airline reservation application, or a network application. (2) A collection of software components used to perform specific types of user-oriented work on a computer.

Linkage conventions for a particular microprocessor. (These conventions define, how registers are used, how they are saved and destroyed across calls, how parameters as passed, and so on.)

(1) A program that is specific to the solution of an application problem. Synonymous with "application software." (T) (2) A program written for or by a user that applies to the user's work, such as a program that does inventory control or payroll. (3) A program used to connect and communicate with stations in a network, enabling users to perform application-oriented activities.

A functional interface supplied by the operating system or by a separately licensed program that allows an application program written in a high-level language to use specific data or functions of the operating system or the licensed program.

(1) An arrangement of data in one or more dimensions: a list, a table, or a multidimensional arrangement of items. (2) In programming languages, an aggregate that consists of data objects, with identical attributes, each of which may be uniquely referenced by subscripting. (I)

American National Standard Code for Information Interchange. The standard code, using a coded character set consisting of 7-bit coded characters (8-bits including parity check), used for information interchange among data processing systems, data communication systems, and associated equipment. The ASCII set consists of control characters and graphic characters.

A string of ASCII characters ending with a null character.

A unique setting that can be changed. See also button assignment and gesture assignment.

Unequal distribution of tasks across multiple processors.

A series of input/output operations that are being done separately from the job that requested them.

A named property of an entity.

Part of the trusted security base, a server responsible for authenticating identities of clients. Maintains passwords and group membership information for users.