physical
Refers to anything pertaining to hardware. The opposite of physical is logical or virtual, which describe software objects. For example, physical memory refers to the actual RAM chips installed in a computer. Virtual memory, on the other hand, is an imaginary storage area used by programs.
A physical data structure refers to the actual organization of data on a storage device. The logical data structure refers to how the information appears to a program or user. For example, a data file is a collection of information stored together. This is its logical structure. Physically, however, a file could be stored on a disk in several scattered pieces.
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- physical drive
The actual tangible unit of hardware of a disk or tape drive. Contrast with logical drive.
- physical erase unit
A flash device is divided into physical erase units. A physical erase unit is the smallest memory area of the flash memory media that can be erased in a single erase operation. Its size varies between flash devices. [Source: msystems]
- physical format
Same as low-level format.
- Physical Topology
The physical layout of devices on a network. Every LAN has a topology, or the way that the devices on a network are arranged and how they communicate with each other. The way that the workstations are connected to the network through the actual cables that transmit data — the physical structure of the network […]
- pica
In typesetting, a pica is a unit of measurement equal to 1/6 of an inch, or 12 points.