| Term | Meaning |
| Address | Data, which identifies a data unit within storage. |
| Common data storage | Working storage shared between networks of different classification levels or access rights |
| Data | Machine-readable information, represented as a bit string |
| Data addresses | Data, supporting the access of data by defining their location in stores. |
| Data unit | Organized addressable sequence of bits (e.g. byte, word, double word) |
| External software storage | Data carrier for software |
| Function | Software controlled processing steps of a processor |
| Information | Binary represented, processable entity |
| Instruction | Datum, executable part of Software, controls processors |
| Instruction bus | Interface between processors and working storage; used to retrieve instructions for execution by processors |
| Internal data of functions | Data, part of software, defined to support functions, subject to Software-quality-control and configuration-control |
| Main processor | Processor, to support the main purpose of the IT-system |
| Malware | Instructions, introduced into a system against the intent of its user |
| Media | Means to move data, including data carrier, networks, remote control devices, scanner, and direct-memory-access-devices. |
| Operand bus | Interface between processors and working storage; used to exchange Operands (data, which are not instructions) |
| Permanent storage | Storage, which maintains its contents after powering down the device |
| Processor | Hardware unit, capable of processing data under software control |
| Program | Set of software, generated to solve a system's tasks |
| Program addresses | Data, supporting software branches based on values. They consist of compare values and instruction addresses, and are subject to software-quality- and configuration-control. |
| System | Set of hardware and software, designed to solve specified tasks within a defined environment. |
| Target data | Data, input to IT-systems to be processed. In general, these are neither subject to software quality control nor configuration control. |
| Working storage | Storage for data that is currently used. |
