N
name
  In the C++ language, commonly referred to as an identifier. However, syntactically, a name can be an identifier, an operator function name, a conversion function name, a destructor name, or a qualified name.
n-ary tree
  A tree that has an upper limit, n, imposed on the number of children allowed for a node.
national language enablement
  See internationalization.
national language implementation
  See localization.
National Television Standard Committee (NTSC)
  (1) A committee that sets the standard for color television broadcasting and video in the United States (also currently in use in Japan). (2) The standard set by the NTSC.
native language
  (1) The instructions that a particular processor can execute directly; machine language. (2) The text that an executing program uses to communicate with a user or environment; that is, the natural language of the end user.
native RMF
  Pertaining to the rendering mechanism and format (RMF) that best represents an object. Native RMF transfers data more efficiently than other RMFs do.
nested class
  A class defined within the scope of another class.
new
  (1) A C++ keyword identifying a free storage allocation operator. (2) A C++ operator used to create class objects.
new-line character
  A control character that causes the print or display position to move to the first position on the next line. This control character is represented by \n
node
  (1) In network topology, the point at the end of a branch. T. (2) In a tree structure, a point at which subordinate items of data originate. ANSI. See root, tree, child node, parent node. (3) In database management, data that can be accessed by more than one route.
nonmember function
  A function that occurs outside a class. See member function.
nonprinting character
  See control character.
nonsignaled
  In the Windows operating system, the state that an object is in when it is suspended. For example, when a thread is created and running, its associated thread kernel object is nonsignaled. As soon as the thread terminates, its thread kernel object is signaled. See signaled.
NT file system (NTFS)
  A file system used in Windows NT, which restores disk-based data after a system failure. NTFS can manipulate extremely large storage media and accommodate file names up to 255 characters in length.
NTFS
  See NT file system.
NTSC
  See National Television Standard Committee.
NTSC format
  A specification for color television, defined by the NTSC, which meets or exceeds the following criteria: (a) 525 scan lines, (b) broadcast bandwidth of 4 megaHertz, (c) line frequency of 15.75 kiloHertz, (d) frame frequency of 30 frames per second, and (e) color subcarrier frequency of 3.58 megaHertz. See National Television Standard Committee.
NULL
  In the C and C++ languages, a pointer that does not point to a data object. IBM. The pointer can be converted to any pointer type.
null character (\0)
  The ASCII or EBCDIC character with the hex value 00 (all bits turned off). It is used to represent the absence of a printed or displayed character. This character is named <NUL> in the portable character set.
null pointer
  The value that is obtained by converting the number 0 into a pointer, for example, `(void *) 0`. The C and C++ languages guarantee that this value will not match that of any legitimate pointer, so it is used by many functions that return pointers to indicate an error. X/Open.
null statement
  (1) In the C language, a statement that consists solely of a semicolon. (2) In the C++ language, an expression statement with the expression missing.
null string
  (1) A string whose first byte is a null byte. See empty string. X/Open. (2) A character array whose first element is a null character. I.
null value
  A parameter position for which no value is specified. IBM.
number sign
  The character #, also known as pound sign and hash sign. This character is named <number-sign> in the portable character set.