Computer Exam Study Notes
Unit 1
Hardware:
Part of the computer that you can see or touch
4 Categories of Hardware
Storage: permanently stores data. Ex. Jump drive, hard drive, floppy disk
Memory: temporally hold data/information that is currently running
Volatile: disappears when turned out RAM
Non-volatile: ROM
Peripherals: input/output devices. Ex. Mouse-input, speakers-output, touch screen monitor-both
CPU: Central processing unit. It is the brain of the computer, there are 3 parts
Control unit (CU): the 'boss' or 'manager' of resources
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): performs mathematical operations
On-chip memory
Software:
The programs used to direct the operation of a computer, as well documentation giving instructions on how to use them (a set of instructions to control the hardware)
Software 3 Categories
Application Software - helps people to accomplish certain tasks
Example: word, excel, PowerPoint, games, etc.
Systems Software - helps the computer to manage its own resources
Example: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Programming Editors/Environments - allow users to create their own application or systems software
Example: Turing, Java
Focus on Software:
5 Operating Systems:
UNIX
Linux
Microsoft Windows
DOS
Mac OS
Two tasks which the operating systems perform
Accepting input from the keyboard
Managing input and output between the computer and external devices
Editor: The general name for the window in a programming environment that allows you to enter and change the program
Compiler and Interpreter: Tools that change the program into the machine language that the computer can understand
Compiler:
Resides in storage
Translates entire code into 0s and 1s, saves it, then runs it
A lot of time is spent analyzing and processing the code
Program runs quickly
Interpreter:
Resides in memory
Translates one line of the program into 0s and 1s, runs it, then moves to the next line without saving
Little time is...
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