Computer Basics

Abstract

Before a computer can function, information must be given to it. This information includes instructions to the computer on what to do, and the data to be processed. The operation of giving this information to the computer is called “input”. This information is stored inside the computer. The location of this storage is called a memory area, and the device that contains the memory area is called a memory device or simply memory. The information is stored until the computer needs it. It is then sent to the central processing unit (abbreviated CPU), where it is operated on. In the CPU, instructions are decoded and data are processed in exact accordance with them. For example, the instructions might call for data to be brought to the CPU from a certain area in memory, and then multiplied by certain other specified data. This kind of processing is called an operation. The operations performed by the CPU are not limited to the four basic arithmetic operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

This chapter explains the basic concepts of the computer hardware, software, operating systems and other basics.