3. NOTATION AND TERMINOLOGY
3.1. Notational Convention
In this Standard a convention has been adopted to assist the reader. Capital letters are used to refer to a specific control function, mode, mode setting, or graphic character (whether they are defined in this Standard or in ISO 646). This usage was found necessary in order to avoid confusion between the general concepts and the specific encoded control functions, e.g. the concept 'space' and the character SPACE (pos. 2/0).
Clause 7.2 lists the abbreviations, names and characteristics of the control functions defined in this Standard. They are ordered according to the alphabetic order of their abbreviations. It is intended that the abbreviations, names and this convention be retained in all translations of the text.
3.2. Definition of Terms
In this Standard, the following definitions apply:
Area: A set of adjacent character positions in a visual display that are not necessarily on the same line.
Auxiliary device: A device connected to a character-imaging device for the purpose of storing, retrieving, or imaging data.
Character-imaging device: A device that gives a visual representation of data in the form of graphic symbols using any technology, e.g. cathode ray tube or printer.
Character position: That portion of a visual display which is imaging or is capable of imaging a graphic symbol.
Control function: An action that affects the recording, processing, transmission, or interpretation of data.
Default: A value or a state that is to be assumed when no value or state is explicitly specified.
Display: A region for visual presentation of data on any type of character-imaging device, including printer and cathode ray tube devices. A display consists of a series of lines composed of character positions. In this Standard the term display shall not be interpreted to mean a cathode ray tube device exclusively.
Field: An area whose boundaries are specified by horizontal tabulation stops.
Final character: A character whose bit combination terminates an escape sequence or a control sequence.
Graphic rendition: A visual style of displaying a set of graphic symbols.
Intermediate character:
- A character whose bit combination occurs between the character ESCAPE and the final character in an escape sequence consisting of more than two bit combinations.
- A character, other than a character in a parameter string, whose bit combination occurs between the CONTROL SEQUENCE INTRODUCER and the final character in a control sequence.
Operating system: Software that controls the execution of computer programs and that may provide scheduling, debugging, input/output control, accounting, compilation, storage assignment, data management, and related services.
Private use: A means of representing a non-standardized control function in a manner compatible with the Standard.
Scroll: An action whereby all of the graphic symbols of a visual display are moved in a specified direction.
Tabulation: A technique of identifying character positions in a visual display for the purpose of arranging information systematically.
Tabulation stop: An indication that a character position is to be used for tabulation; a horizontal tabulation stop may also serve as a boundary between fields.