COMPUTER BASICS

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

A computer is a complex system built from multiple components. Inside the computer has software and hardware that can be input or output. The hardware consists of the physical computer and its components. There are also softwares that are the digital programs of the computer

HARDWARE

MEMORY

CPU

INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES

BUS

INPUT DEVICES

An input device is a peripheral used to transfer data from the outside world into a computer system. Typical examples include keyboards, mouses, pointing sticks, joysticks, graphic tablets, touchpads, and scanners.

OUTPUT DEVICES

An output device is electronic equipment connected to a computer and used to transfer data out of the computer in the form of text, images, sounds or other media to a display screen, printer, loudspeaker or storage device.

Memory The computer memory can be any device that holds the data and instructions that the CPU needs.

ROM

EXTERNAL MEMORY

RAM

The Read Only Memory (ROM) is the permanent memory used to store important programs and software to perform a variety of functions, such as booting up or starting programs. ROM contents are not lost when the power is switched off.

The Random Access Memory (RAM) is the working memory of a computer system. It stores input data, programs, and other information temporarily, and it can be read and written. All its data will be lost when the power is switched off.

Memory and data can be stored on external storage devices such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, USB portable hard drives or using cloud computing, a system which provides storage over the Internet.

CPU The central processing unit (CPU) is the part of a computer which controls all the other parts. It consists of the control unit (CU), the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the registers. The control unit collects instructions from memory and decodes them in order to produce signals which transfer data between memory and ALU or activate peripherals to perform input or output. The CPU is usually located on the same printed circuit board, known as the motherboard.

A bus is a group of conductors that carry data and control signals within a computer, allowing devices to be connected in parallel. It consists of multiple wires or signal lines, each carrying a single bit of information. The number of wires in a bus determines the amount of information it can handle. There are two types of buses commonly used in computers: an internal bus for communication between components like video cards and memory, and an external bus for communication with external devices such as USB or SCSI peripherals.





SOFTWARE

Operative System (OS)

An OS, which stands for Operating System, is a software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides essential services for computer programs. It acts as an intermediary between users and the computer's hardware, allowing them to interact with the system and run applications.

BROWSER

A browser is a software application that allows users to access and navigate the internet. It retrieves and displays web pages, interprets HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and enables users to interact with websites, search for information, and view multimedia content. Browsers provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it easy for users to navigate through various websites and access online resources.

USB and FLASH DRIVE


USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard interface used for connecting devices to a computer or other electronic devices. It provides a simple and efficient way to transfer data and power between devices. A flash drive, also known as a USB flash drive or thumb drive, is a small, portable storage device that uses USB technology. It allows you to store and transfer data such as files, documents, photos, and videos. Flash drives are convenient and widely used for their compact size, large storage capacity, and ease of use.