Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is a computer?
An electronic device that performs computations and logical decisions under the control of computer programs.
What are the two main components of a computer?
Hardware and Software.
What is hardware?
The physical parts of a computer including internal and external components.
What is software?
A set of programs that runs the computer and allows interaction with the hardware.
What does the CPU consist of?
Control Unit and Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU).
What is the role of the Control Unit?
Directs the operation of the processor.
What does the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) do?
Performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions.
What is RAM?
Random Access Memory that is volatile and allows data to be read and written.
What is ROM?
Read-Only Memory that is non-volatile and stores permanent instructions.
What is secondary storage?
Long-term storage devices like hard disks and flash disks, which do not directly interact with the CPU.
What is the role of the Input/Output Unit?
It allows data input and output through devices such as a keyboard monitor and printer
What is application software?
Software that helps accomplish specific tasks like Word or Excel.
What is operating software?
Software that manages hardware resources and provides an environment for application software.
What is machine language?
A binary language that is directly understood by computers but hard to write and machine-specific.
What is assembly language?
A language using mnemonics that is easier to understand but still requires translation to machine code.
What are high-level languages?
Languages like C and Java that are easy to understand, portable, and need a compiler ot translate to machine code.
When was the C language developed?
C evolved from B and was implemented in 1972 at Bell Laboratories.
What was C originally developed for?
C was developed to write the UNIX operating system kernel.
Why is C still important today?
C is widely used in system programming, embedded systems, and real-time systems due to its performance and portability.
What are the six phases of C program execution?
Editing, Preprocessing, Compiling, Linking, Loading, Execution
What happens during the editing phase of a C program?
A C program is written and saved with a .c extension as the source code.
What is preprocessing in C program execution?
The phase that handles # directives and generates the expanded source code file with a .i extension.
What is the compiling phase of a C program?
The compiler translates the C program into machine-language code, generating an object file (.obj).
What does the linker do in C program execution?
Links the object file with system libraries to create an executable file (.exe).
What is the role of the loader in C program execution?
The loader transfers the executable file from the hard disk to main memory for execution.
What happens in the execution phase of a C program?
The CPU executes the program’s instructions one at a time.
Why is learning C useful for students?
It improves their resume, offers fast execution of programs, and allows low-level memory access via pointers.
