Quick Search

Advanced Search

M CKInfo Items

Computer Knowledge information pages for terms starting with the letter M.

Machine Language - Binary commands used by the computer hardware

The actual language that the computer's central processing unit understands. Machine language is a series of zeros and ones (binary notation) and, as a consequence, is very difficult for people to understand. This is why most programs are written in ...

Macro - Stored list of commands

A stored list of one or more commands used to simplify some operation in either the operating system or some running program. Macros group commands together and are typically used in repetitive tasks where the macro is called into operating via a sho...

MAE - Metropolitan Area Exchange (Ethernet)

(may) A MAE is a large Network Access Point (NAP). A company known as MFS constructed the first MAE in Washington, D.C. and, later, a second in Silicon Valley (known generally as MAE-East and MAE-West). MAE is a term specific to the MFS facilities; b...

Mail Merge - Combination of a database and document

The combination of a database of (usually) names and addresses with a document in order to produce individualized copies of the document. The database of names can be an actual database or just a list in a specially-formatted text file. The mail merg...

MAN - Metropolitan Area Network

(man) An intermediate-sized network larger than a local-area and smaller than a wide-area network. A MAN is generally used for an area the size of a small city and will typically have high-speed fiber or other high bandwidth connections. More Informa...

MAPI - Messaging Application Programming Interface

(map-ee) An API that allows application programmers easy access to mail programs under Windows. MAPI is more than just E-mail; it also includes components for scheduling, calendars, and document management. Its open interface allows, for example, a s...

Mapping - Way of converting encoded data

A way of converting encoded data in one format or on one device into a form easily read by another format or device. The classic example of mapping would be the index file of a database. The index can be read and records arranged in a variety of ways...

MARS - Multi-player Animated Role-playing System

(mars) A game system allowing one or more players to role-play on Macintosh, Power Macintosh, and Windows computers. More Information Mars Home Page ...

Mashup - Web site or application developed from combinations of content

A mashup is generally considred to be a Web site or Web application developed from combinations of content from outside sources. Think of the various ways that Google maps are used by other websites or the different ways the pictures stored on Flickr...

Mask - A pattern or outline

1) Data entry A pattern that defines the characters that can legally be used in a data entry field. Often this is defined in a regular expression (regex). 2) Graphics An outline that defines an area of a graphic that can either accept or reject pixel...

Recent Blogs