Programming Flashcards
What is a computer?
It is a programmable machine designed to follow/process data/instructions at an enormous speed
What is a computer program also known as?
Software
What is a computer program?
It is a list of instructions, stored in the computer memory to direct the computer system to perform a task
What is Hardware?
Refers to the computer equipment
List examples of Hardware?
-Keyboard
-mouse
-Terminal
-Hard disk
-Printer
What are two types of Software?
-Operating system
-Application software
What is an Operating system?
a software that provides a convenient and efficient interface between the user and the hardware
What are some examples of Operating Systems?
-Windows
-Mac OS
What is an Application Software?
The software the makes the computer useful to the user (extras)
What are examples of Application Softwares?
-Computer games
-Spreadsheets
-Word processors
-Tax Software
What is a Computer System?
-The combination of hardware and software
What does IPO mean? Why is it important?
INPUT, PROCESS, OUTPUT
-These parts make up the computer hardware
Why is input important?
-It inputs information into the CPU via the memory of the computer
What does CPU mean?
-Central Processing Unit
What are examples of input devices?
-Keyboard (standard input)
-Mouse
-Scanner
-Microphone
What is the purpose of output devices?
-used to make the computer-processed data/information available at the output
What are examples of Output Devices?
-Computer Monitor (standard output)
-Printer
-Plotter
List some Secondary Storage Devices. Are these input or output devices?
-Disk drives
-SSD
-Optical Drives
-USB drives
These are considered both
What is the definition of SSD?
Solid State Drives
What does the Internal Memory do?
-Holds both the program instructions and data
What is the Internal Memory also known as?
primary storage
What is the internal memory composed of?
-Random Access Memory (RAM)
-Read-Only Memory (ROM)
What is the Random Access Memory?
-It is the main memory
-It is volatile and requires constant power to maintain the stored information
-Memory is erased when computer is off
-Stores data and associated information for any application
What is the Read-Only Memory?
-It is non volatile
-Data items are retained even after the computer is turned off
-Stores start up instructions and the likes for a computer system
What happens when data is inputted through an input device?
It directly goes to the main memory which is the random access memory
What are external memory good for?
For long term storage of information
What are external memory also known as?
Secondary Storage
List examples of external memory
-Hard Disk/SS (solid state) storage
-Flash/pen memory
-CD
What is the CPU composed of?
-Control Unit (CU)
-Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
What does the control unit do?
Controls the computer resources such as input/output devices, internal/external memory, ALU by using control signals based on the decoded instructions
What is the control unit also known as?
The processor
What does the arithmetic and logic unit do?
Performs mathematical operations
What is the first operation that the CPU performs?
Fetch/get
-from the main memory (RAM) the CPU’s control unit (CU) fetches the next encoded instruction in the sequence of program instructions
What is the second operation that the CPU performs?
Decode
-The CPU decodes the instruction and generates an electronic signal
What is the final operation that the CPU performs?
Execute
-The electronic signal is routed to the appropriate component of the computer such as the ALU, a disk drive or some other device
-The signal causes the component to perform an operation
What does the RAM typically contain?
-currently running program instructions
-Data used by those programs
How is RAM divided?
divided into numbered locations each of which contains one byte of data/information
What is a memory location number of the RAM called?
Address
What is something that a memory location number cannot do?
-No two memory locations can have the same address
What is a byte?
a sequence of 8 bits
what does bit stand for?
binary digit
-These can either have 1 (TRUE, ON) or 0 (FALSE, OFF) value
How do bits work in a computer (a digital device)?
The bits form a pattern that represents a character or number
How is Data Stored in the Memory?
Computers use zeros and ones because digital devices have two stable states, which are referred to as zero and one by convention
What does a computer do if it needs to store a large number?
-if the number cannot fit into a single byte, it uses more than one adjacent bytes
How long is each memory location in a computer?
1 byte long or a sequence of 8 bits
