Term of the Moment

garbage collection


Look Up Another Term


Definition: autoloader


(1) Software that performs input tasks such as copying the OS and related programs into memory (RAM), which is often an instance of a virtual machine. An autoloader may also input a group of files into memory. See virtual machine and load.

(2) A mechanical device that takes an optical disc, magnetic disk or tape cartridge from a storage location and inserts it into the drive. Also called an "autochanger," it is the robotic part of a tape or disk library. See tape library, disk library, CD-ROM changer and CD-ROM server.




The REV Autoloader
Iomega's removable REV disks came in a 10-disk library, called the "REV Autoloader." (Image courtesy of Iomega Corporation.)