Chapter 1:
Program:
A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task
Commonly referred to as software
Programmer/Software developer:
A person with the training skills necessary to design, create, and test
programs
Hardware:
Refers to the physical components that a computer is made of
CPU:
Most important component part of a computer that actually runs programs
Small chips known as microprocessors
Job is to fetch instructions, follow the instructions and produce some result
Made up of:
Control unit:
Coordinates all of the computer’s operations
Arithmetic and logic unit: (ALU)
Designed to perform mathematical calculations
Fetch/Decode/Execute cycle: (CPU does this)
Fetch: fetches the next instruction from main memory
Decode: Decodes the instruction and generates an electronic signal
Execute: Signal is routed to the appropriate component of the computer
Main memory:
Computer stores a program while the program is running and the data it is
using with
A computers memory is divided into tiny storage locations known as bytes
RAM:
Temporary storage
Volatile
Secondary storage:
Hold data for long periods of time
Frequently used programs are stored in secondary memory and loaded into
main memory as needed
Input devices:
Any information the computer collects from the outside world
Output devices:
Any information the computer sends to the outside world
Program:
A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task
Commonly referred to as software
Programmer/Software developer:
A person with the training skills necessary to design, create, and test
programs
Hardware:
Refers to the physical components that a computer is made of
CPU:
Most important component part of a computer that actually runs programs
Small chips known as microprocessors
Job is to fetch instructions, follow the instructions and produce some result
Made up of:
Control unit:
Coordinates all of the computer’s operations
Arithmetic and logic unit: (ALU)
Designed to perform mathematical calculations
Fetch/Decode/Execute cycle: (CPU does this)
Fetch: fetches the next instruction from main memory
Decode: Decodes the instruction and generates an electronic signal
Execute: Signal is routed to the appropriate component of the computer
Main memory:
Computer stores a program while the program is running and the data it is
using with
A computers memory is divided into tiny storage locations known as bytes
RAM:
Temporary storage
Volatile
Secondary storage:
Hold data for long periods of time
Frequently used programs are stored in secondary memory and loaded into
main memory as needed
Input devices:
Any information the computer collects from the outside world
Output devices:
Any information the computer sends to the outside world
