National Teaching and Learning Change ProgrammeInformation and Communication Technology:
Dictionary

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• key
  A button on a keyboard which, when pressed, sends a character to the computer.
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• key
  In encryption, a key is a word or code selected by the user to encrypt or decrypt data.
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• key
  The field (the key field) within a record used to identify the record, for example, a bank account number identifies a customer’s account. The key can be used for finding the record within a file or as the sort key for sorting a file into order. Most data files will have a primary key, which is unique and used to identify the record. If the records in a data file can be accessed sequentially the records will be accessed in key field order, which is the order they will be in when they have been sorted using the key field. Data files may also have secondary keys, which enable the file to be accessed in a different order. Composite keys, made up of more than one field, can be used to sort a file.
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• key (foreign key)
  The primary key of one file or table which is used in another file or table to implement the relationships between them.
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• key field
  The key field within a record is the field used to identify the record, e.g. an account number identifies a customers bank account. The key can be used for finding the record within a file or as the sort key for sorting a file into order.
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• keyboard
  An input device consisting of various keys representing alphanumeric characters, plus other keys such as function keys, cursor control keys, etc.
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• keyboard buffer
  A section of computer memory which holds the record of keyboard presses until the computer is ready to process them.
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• keyboard shortcut
  A keyboard shortcut is a key or key combination that provides an alternative to standard ways of performing an action, e.g. using Ctrl+S instead of selecting File, Save.
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• keyword
  When used in searching, a keyword is the word entered into the search routine, which then finds where that keyword appears in the document being searched.
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• keyword
  Any word in the vocabulary of a programming language which can only have the meaning which is defined in the language. For example, many programming languages have an instruction FOR which is a reserved word and so a variable or other identifier cannot be named FOR.
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• kilobyte
  A measure of computer memory or disk space (storage) consisting of 1024 bytes. Abbreviated to Kb.
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• kiosk-type browser
  A browser designed for easy use by the public, allowing limited access to information. They can be operated using robust interfaces such as touch screens.