hot key
A user -defined key sequence that executes a command or causes the operating system to switch to another program. In DOS systems, for example, you can use hot keys to open memory-resident programs (TSRs). In Windows environments, you can often press a hot key to execute common commands. For example, Ctrl +C usually copies the selected objects.
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- hot link
(n) A link between two applications such that changes in one affect the other. For example, some desktop publishing systems let you establish hot links between documents and databases or spreadsheets. When data in the spreadsheet changes, the corresponding charts and graphs in the document change accordingly. (v) To establish a link between two applications.
- hot plugging
The ability to add and remove devices to a computer while the computer is running and have the operating system automatically recognize the change. Two external bus standards — Universal Serial Bus (USB ) and IEEE 1394 — support hot plugging. This is also a feature of PCMCIA. Hot plugging is also called hot swapping.
- hot potato routing
(n.) A form of routing in which the nodes of a network have no buffer to store packets in before they are moved on to their final predetermined destination. In normal routing situations, when multiple packets contend for a single outgoing channel, packets that are not buffered are dropped to avoid congestion. But in hot […]
- hot spare
A backup device such as a hard disk or controller that is in a standby mode, meaning it is online and available should the primary device go offline or fail. The system would detect the failure and automatically switch to the hot spare to use as a replacement. Hot spare is commonly used in RAID […]
- hot spot
An area of a graphics object, or a section of text, that activates a function when selected. Hot spots are particularly common in multimedia applications, where selecting a hot spot can make the application display a picture, run a video, or open a new window of information.