Category: Dot

A method of building computer systems in which the system is programmed and implemented in segments, rather than waiting until the entire project is completed for implementation. RAD uses such tools as CASE (see Computer Aided Software Engineering Tools) and visual programming (see definition).

A software development process whose purpose is to evaluate the suitability of a potential application for production.

The computer industry standard network protocol or model for computer-to-computer communications. Developed by the International Standards Organization, OSI consists of seven layers or modules arranged in a hierarchy (see below) with each layer performing a function that is dependent on the more elementary (lower) layer. The system is “open” in the sense that layers are… Continue reading Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Standard

A computing environment that allows users to access and utilize data and software across multiple platforms. Incompatible hardware platforms, operating systems, and other application software are tied together through the use of industry-standard system components. An open systems environment facilitates systems integration by creating the means for resource sharing in an environment in which hardware,… Continue reading Open systems Environment

A standard database access method developed to make it possible to access any data from any application, regardless of which database management system (DBMS) (see definition) is handling the data. ODBC does this by inserting a middle layer, called a database driver, between a database application and the DBMS. The purpose of the driver is… Continue reading Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

A type of computer processing in which the computer responds immediately to user requests. Each request is considered to be a transaction. Automatic teller machines are examples of transaction processing. The opposite of transaction processing is batch processing, in which a batch of requests is stored and then executed all at one time. Transaction processing… Continue reading Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)

A category of software tools that provides analysis of data stored in a database. OLAP tools enable users to analyze different dimensions of multidimensional data. For example, it provides time-series and trend-analysis views. The chief component of OLAP is the OLAP server, which sits between a client and a database management system. The OLAP server… Continue reading Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)

A method in which programmers define not only the type of data structure, but also the types of operations (functions or procedures) that can be applied to the data structure. In this way, the data structure becomes an object that includes both data and functions. In addition, programmers can create relationships between one object and… Continue reading Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

A type of database that is optimized for data warehousing and online analytical processing (OLAP) applications (see online analytical processing). Multidimensional databases are frequently created using input from existing relational databases. MDB denotes the ability to process the data in the database quickly so that answers can be generated immediately.

Acronym for “millions of instructions per second.” MIPS is sometimes mistakenly considered a relative measure of processing capability among computer models and products, but it is a meaningful measure only among versions of the same computer processors configured with identical peripherals and software.