Being able to calculate many times per second allows modern computers to multi-task, which means they can do many different tasks at the same time. Modern computers can do billions of calculations in a second. There are four main actions in a computer: inputting, storing, outputting and processing. The two important parts of a computer are that it responds to a specific instruction set in a well-defined manner and that it can execute a stored list of instructions called a program. They range from small computers, such as smartphones and laptops, to large computers, such as supercomputers.Ĭharacteristics Computers come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the brand, model, and purpose. Most computers are digital, which means that they represent information using binary digits, or bits.

The processor of a computer is made from integrated circuits (chips) that contains many transistors. Computers can be connected together to form a network such as the internet, allowing the computers to communicate with each other. The data is then saved on a storage device, shown on a display, or sent to another computer. Programs usually perform mathematical calculations, modify data, or move it around. A computer program is a list of instructions the computer has to perform. The computer processes or changes the data by following the instructions in software programs. Input of data means to read information from a keyboard, a storage device like a hard drive, or a sensor.

Data is information such as numbers, words, and lists. A computer is a machine that uses electronics to input, process, store, and output data.

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