Basics of Computer and its Operations

 Introduction :

A computer is an electronic device that can receive, store, process, and output data. It is a machine that can perform a variety of tasks and operations, ranging from simple calculations to complex simulations and artificial intelligence.

The Basics of Computer and its Basic Operations is an important topic. Computer is Electronic Device that receives input from the user, calculates, processes the raw data into meaningful information and provides the desired results as output. Basically, it has the capability to transform Data. The history of computers can be traced back to the 19th century when mechanical devices such as the Analytical Engine and tabulating machines were developed.

However, modern computers as we know them today were developed in the mid-20th century with the invention of the transistor and the development of integrated circuits.

Computers consist of hardware components such as the central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage devices, input/output devices, and peripherals, as well as software components such as the operating system and applications.

Basics of Computer and its Operation

The computer was invented by Charles Babbage. One should wonder how a machine can perform so many varieties of tasks so efficiently. Let us learn about the basics of a computer and its operation, features, parts, etc.

Important Features of a Computer

Some basic characteristics of a computer are:

Speed

Computers perform very fast calculations and processing of million instructions and tasks in a few seconds.

Efficiency

The computers are not only fast but also, the information processed is highly efficient and accurate.

Reliable

Computers are highly reliable for long working hours and can do heavy amounts of work for long durations, unlike humans.

Versatile

The variety of tasks that a computer can perform is highly versatile as the functions and tasks performed can be of a billion types ranging from simple calculations to highly complicated science researches.

Storage

The amount of data that a computer can store is very vast and also the management and accessing of data is very organized and efficient. It also avoids the loss of data.

Basic Operations of the Computer

Some of the basic operations done by the computer are:

Accept/Input Data

This refers to collecting the data and instructions being given by the user. It can also be termed as Data Capturing.

Data Storage

The data is required to be stored at various levels while processing, before processing, or even after processing to store desired results. This is data storage.

Data Processing

This refers to processing the given data according to the given instructions and producing the required output.

Displaying the Calculated Results

This refers to producing the output on the output devices once the result is calculated.

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basics of computer

                                          Parts of Computer

To understand the basics of computer er we need to learn about its various parts. A computer has several components. Let us learn about them one by one. A computer has basically five parts:

Input Unit

Computer Input unit means the device of the input and a part of the computer hardware which is used for the transport of the data processing system involves the information devices of the computer with the control and data signals of the computer. Example – Mouse, Camera, Keyboard, Microphone, Scanner, Barcode Reader, Light Pen, Joystick, etc.

Output Unit

Computer Output is the device which deals with transmitting the data of the computer among the device and the clients.

The output unit basically involves the output devices and its operation is to give the processed information as an output on the computer. The results of processing are always in binary code. Humans cannot understand this code. Therefore the output unit converts it into a form that we can understand. Some important output devices are Monitors (also called Visual Display Unit), Speakers, Printers, etc.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

This is a really important part of a computer as it performs all the processing parts of the computer. The CPU carries out and performs different calculations and other operations on the data and instructions. It has two subparts:

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the primary component of a computer that acts as its “control center.” The CPU, also referred to as the “central” or “main” processor, is a complex set of electronic circuitry that runs the machine's operating system and apps.

Arithmetic and Logical Unit:

The ALU definition is a digital circuit inside the CPU that has the capacity to perform billions of operations per second. ALU stands for Arithmetic Logic Unit. The ALU in the computer performs arithmetic and logical operations as part of the CPU, and as commanded by the CU. As the name suggests, this unit is responsible for performing arithmetic tasks like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and also making logical decisions like greater than less than, etc. Hence, its name is also the ‘brain’ of the computer.

Control Unit: This unit is responsible for looking after all the processing being done. It organizes and manages the execution of tasks that the CPU performs.

Primary Memory

Primary Memory is a section of computer memory that the CPU can access directly. Primary Memory has a faster access time than secondary memory and is faster than cache memory in a memory hierarchy. Primary Memory, on average, has a storage capacity that is lower than secondary memory but higher than cache memory.

This can also be named as the main memory of the computer which is present internally. Here, the data and instructions are stored while the processing is taking place in the CPU. RAM (Random Access Memory) is a primary memory which is volatile (data is lost when the power is disconnected). Another primary memory is ROM(Read Only Memory).

Secondary Memory

Memory in a computer refers to the physical components that are used to temporarily or permanently store programmes or data. It’s a collection of registers.

Primary memory is very volatile and has a finite amount of storage space. As a result, having a second type of memory with a bigger storage capacity- from which programs and data are not lost whenever the computer is turned off is critical. Secondary memory is the term for this form of memory. Programs and data are stored in secondary memory. Auxiliary memory is another name for it. It differs from primary memory in that it is non-volatile and not directly accessible by the CPU. Secondary storage devices, often known as external storage devices, have substantially more storage space and are less expensive than primary memory.As we know that the primary memory is volatile therefore, we need some devices to store the data permanently so we use some external storage devices for this purpose which we name as the secondary memory.

Basics of Computer: Software

As you know, the hardware devices need user instructions to function. A set of instructions that achieve a single outcome are called program or procedure. Many programs functioning together to do a task make a software.

For example, a word-processing software enables the user to create, edit and save documents. A web browser enables the user to view and share web pages and multimedia files. There are two categories of software −

Software is one of the important terms we should understand to get familiar with the basics of computers. It is the set of programs that perform various special tasks or functions on the computer. The software can be classified further into two categories:

System Software

System software is a program designed to run a computer's hardware and applications and manage its resources, such as its memory, processors, and devices.

The system software is responsible for handling all the internal workings of a computer. Some types of system software are: 

Operating System: 

operating system (OS), program that manages a computer's resources, especially the allocation of those resources among other programs. Typical resources include the central processing unit (CPU), computer memory, file storage, input/output (I/O) devices, and network connections. An operating system is basically software used for interaction between the user and the computer hardware. It controls all the parts of a computer system and manages them. Examples are Microsoft Windows, Linux, etc.

Language Processors: converts the code given by the user (source code) to computer language (machine code).

System Utilities: This software is responsible for the proper and smooth functioning of computers. And also, keeping the system safe. Examples are Antivirus Software, File Management Tools, etc.

Device Drivers: This software basically has the instructions in order to run the hardware devices.

Application Software: This software performs only a specific task. Examples are MS-Excel, PowerPoint, Google Chrome, etc.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is a computer?

A1. A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web.A computer is an electronic device/machine which takes input, processes the data, and produces output. Charles Babbage invented the computer.

Q2. List the basic parts of a computer.

A2. The five basic parts of a computer are:

Input Unit

Output Unit

Central Processing Unit(CPU)

Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU)

Control Unit Etc.

Q3. What is primary memory?

A3. Primary memory is the memory that is present in the computer internally. Moreover, it stores data and information while processing takes place. It is a volatile memory i.e. it loses data once the power is off. Examples are RAM and ROM.

Q4. What is secondary memory?

A4. Secondary memory is computer memory that is non-volatile, persistent and not immediately accessible by a computer or processor. It allows users to store data and information that can be retrieved, transmitted, and used by apps and services quickly and easily. Secondary storage is another name for secondary memory.Secondary devices store data permanently. Example: CD, DVD, etc.

Q5. List the features/advantages of a computer ?

A5. High Speed. One of the reasons for the improvement in the quality of life is the personal computer's speed.

Accuracy. Humans make errors,Automation,Storage,Ease of Access,Multitasking,Better understanding of data

Reduced Cost for Online Ventures.

Q6. A computer has the following features such as?

A6. Speed, Accuracy, Reliability, Versatility, and Storage are the charactristics of a computer.

Q7. What is software?

A7. Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and execute specific tasks. It is the opposite of hardware, which describes the physical aspects of a computer.The software can be defined as the set of programs written to perform various special tasks or functions on the computer. In addition, it can be classified further into two categories, which are System Software and Application Software.