In this blogpost you will learn What is computer? and its main components of a computer
Table of Contents
What is Computer
Computer is an electronic machine that can process data and convert it into information.The process of converting data into information is called data processing.
Birth of Modern (Digital )Computer
The Atanasoff–Berry computer, or ABC, was the first contemporary electronic digital computer.
It was created in 1942 at Iowa State College, now known as Iowa State University, by physics Professor John Vincent Atanasoff and his doctoral student Clifford Berry.
You can learn more about history of computer
Main Components of a Computer
There are two main components of computer
- Computer Hardware
- Computer Software
Computer Hardware
The physical parts of a computer are called hardware.We can touch, see, and feel hardware.
- Examples: input and output devices (such as a keyboard, mouse, printer, monitor, etc.), CPU, memory unit, etc.
The following are the main component of computer Hardware
- CPU(Central Processing Unit)
- Input Devices
- Output
- Storage
Computer Processor(CPU)
The brain of the computer . All the working of Computer is controlled by this mini electronic chip.
CPU can be divided into two main parts
- ALU(Arithmetic and Logical Unit)
- CU(Control Unit)
You can learn more about cpu and how it works.
What is Input?
In computers the input is defined as the process of giving something to the computer is called input. Various devices are used to input data to computers like keyboard, mouse, mike etc.
You can learn more about what input devices are and their various functions.
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Mike
- Camera
These devices are more common input devices . You can learn about from here
what is output in computer
A hardware component which is used to receive the output from the computer is called an output device.
It takes information from a computer and converts it in a form that a user can understand.
Output devices
- Monitors
- Printers
- Plotters
- Speakers
You can learn more about what is output and output devices.
Storage Devices
Devices that are used to store information called storage devices
Primary storage
Secondary Storage
You can learn more about What are Storage devices and how they work
What is Computer Software
Computer software is defined the set of instruction given to it to perform a specific task called software
A set of well defined set of instruction that instruct a computer to do something is called software
Software can be broadly divided into two different categories
- System Software
- Application Software
System Software
The software which controls and manages different operations of a computer system is called system software
Application Software
A program or set of programs that are specially designed to perform a specific task or to solve a specific problem is called application software
Difference between Computer Hardware and Software
| Computer Hardware | Computer Software |
| Hardware are the physical components of the computer | Software is a set of instructions given to the computer. |
| We can touch, and see the hardware. | We cannot touch, and see the software. |
| Hardware is constructed using physical materials or components. | Software is developed by writing instructions in programming language |
| Hardware is not affected by computer viruses. | Software is affected by computer viruses. |
| User cannot make new duplicate copies of the hardware | User can make many new duplicate copies of the software |
| If hardware is damaged, it is replaced with new one | If software is damaged or corrupted, its backup copy can be reinstalled |
