Fax See facsimile . A closed loop in which a computer-controlled process generates data that become input to the computer. Fetch instruction That part of the instruction cycle in which the control unit retrieves a program instruction from RAM and loads it to the processor. A data transmission medium that carries data in the form of light in very thin transparent fibers. Field The smallest logical unit of data.
Examples are employee number, first name, and price.
A technique by which file size can be reduced. Compressed files are decompressed for use. File format The manner in which a file is stored on secondary storage. File server A dedicated computer system with high-capacity disk for storing the data and programs shared by the users on a local area network. A communications protocol that is used to transmit files over the Internet.