ZX Spectrum Glossary: Terms From A to Z

128K

The Spectrum models with 128 KB of memory and an AY sound chip: the Spectrum 128, +2, +2A, +2B and +3. See 48K vs 128K.

48K

The original Spectrum with 48 KB of memory, and the machine most classic games were written for.

Assembly language

Programming in the processor's own instructions, written as short words such as LD and JP. Most commercial Spectrum games were written this way.

Attribute

The byte that sets the ink, paper, BRIGHT and FLASH for one 8 × 8 cell of the screen. See attribute clash.

Attribute clash

When two differently coloured objects share an 8 × 8 cell and one takes on the other's colour. Also called colour clash.

AY (AY-3-8912)

The three-channel sound chip in the 128K models, used for music.

BASIC

The programming language built into every Spectrum, used for loaders, learning and simple games.

Beeper

The 48K's single-channel sound: a speaker switched on and off by the processor.

Border

The area around the main screen, which can be set to one colour and flickers with stripes while loading.

BRIGHT

An attribute setting that makes a cell's colours more vivid.

Contention

The way the Spectrum's display hardware briefly holds up the processor when both want the same memory. Accurate emulators reproduce it.

Cursor joystick

A joystick interface that acts like keys 5, 6, 7, 8 and 0. See joysticks.

Datacorder

Amstrad's name for the cassette deck built into the Spectrum +2.

Emulator

Software that imitates a computer, so its programs run on another device. See the best emulators.

FLASH

An attribute setting that makes a cell swap its ink and paper colours regularly.

Flip-screen

A game where the view jumps a whole screen at a time when you walk off the edge, rather than scrolling.

FPGA

A chip that can be configured to act as other hardware. The Spectrum Next uses one. See the Spectrum Next.

Header

The short tape block that gives the name, type and length of the block after it.

Homebrew

New games and programs written by enthusiasts for old computers, long after their commercial life.

Ink and paper

The foreground and background colours of an attribute cell.

Interface 1 and 2

Sinclair add-ons. Interface 1 added the Microdrive, networking and a serial port; Interface 2 added two joystick ports and a cartridge slot.

Issue

A revision of the Spectrum's circuit board, such as Issue 2 or Issue 3.

Kempston

The most widely supported joystick interface, read through its own input port.

LOAD ""

The command to load the next program from tape. See tape loading.

Loading screen

A picture that loads before the game, filling the screen line by line.

Microdrive

Sinclair's small, fast tape-loop storage device, used with Interface 1.

Paging

Switching which 16 KB bank of memory the processor can see, used by the 128K to reach its extra memory.

Parser

The part of a text adventure that understands what you type. See The Gullrock Light.

Pilot tone

The steady note at the start of each tape block that lets the Spectrum lock on to the signal.

POKE

A BASIC command that writes a number into memory. "POKEs" are also cheats, such as infinite lives.

ROM

The read-only memory holding the Spectrum's BASIC and tape routines.

Sinclair joystick

A joystick that acts like number keys (6 to 0 or 1 to 5), as on Interface 2 and the Amstrad models.

Snapshot

A file holding the whole state of the machine at one moment, such as a Z80 or SNA file. See file formats.

Speccy

Fans' affectionate nickname for the ZX Spectrum, and the name of the emulator that runs our arcade.

Sprite

A moving graphic, such as the player's character.

Symbol Shift

The Spectrum's second shift key, used for punctuation and extra keywords.

TAP

A simple tape-image file holding the blocks of a tape that uses the standard loader.

Turbo loader

A custom tape loader that loads faster than the standard one, often with copy protection.

TZX

A tape-image file that can preserve custom loaders and exact timings.

ULA

The Spectrum's custom chip, which produces the display, reads the keyboard and handles the tape and sound signals.

Z80

The Zilog Z80A, the Spectrum's 8-bit processor, running at about 3.5 MHz.

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