COMPUTER WEEK 1 Flashcards
(35 cards)
Software that allows users to operate their devices, consisting of one or more programs that perform specific tasks coded by programmers using algorithms.
Application software
Step-by-step procedures that describe how to achieve a specified task, coded by programmers in a programming language.
Algorithms
The physical components of a computer system, including memory, input/output devices, and processing units.
Hardware
Key Point: Programmers create software that users rely on to operate their devices efficiently, and hardware stores program instructions, accepts input, processes that input, and generates output for the user.
Key Point: Programmers create software that users rely on to operate their devices efficiently, and hardware stores program instructions, accepts input, processes that input, and generates output for the user.
In 1945, John von Neumann proposed the stored-program concept, which stores instructions and data alongside one another. All modern computers use this architecture.
Modern Computers
The architecture proposed by John von Neumann in 1945, in which instructions and data are stored together. All modern computers use this architecture.
Stored-Program Concept
Memory that is directly accessible by the CPU. Primary memory includes ROM, RAM, and CPU memory.
Primary Memory
Read-Only Memory, which holds instructions for starting the system. ROM is non-volatile, meaning it persists when power is turned off.
ROM
Random-Access Memory, which holds program instructions and data. RAM is volatile, meaning its contents are lost when power is turned off.
RAM
The primary component of a modern computer that executes program instructions serially. A modern CPU consists of registers, a decode unit, a control unit (CU), an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), and a floating-point accelerator (FPA).
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Internal memory of a CPU that holds data used by the ALU and FPA, as well as new data produced by them. Register data is volatile and lost when power is turned off.
Registers
The component of a CPU that extracts incoming instructions from the instruction queue and decodes them.
Decode Unit
The component of a CPU that manages data and moves data between registers, RAM, and devices. The CU passes decoded instructions to the ALU or FPA for processing.
Control Unit (CU)
The component of a CPU that performs comparisons, integer calculations, changes data, and creates new data as directed by the CU. The ALU works solely with register memory inside the CPU.
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
The component of a CPU that performs calculations on floating-point data. The FPA works solely with register memory inside the CPU.
Floating-Point Accelerator (FPA)
The components of a modern computer that include peripheral and other devices. Peripheral devices provide user interfaces for input and output, and secondary memory provides persistent storage of program instructions and program data.
Devices
Secondary memory is less expensive but slower than primary memory.
Memory Comparison
Answer: Software is a set of programs that control a computer and its hardware.
Definition: Software
Answer: The operating system is a program that manages computer resources and provides services to application software.
Definition: Operating System
Answer: An application program is a software program designed to perform a specific function for the user.
Definition: Application Program
Answer: A programming language is a set of rules for writing computer programs.
Definition: Programming Language
Answer: Computation is the process of performing mathematical or logical operations using a computer.
Definition: Computation
Answer: Data structures are ways of organizing and storing data in a computer’s memory.
Definition: Data Structures
Answer: Modularity is the practice of breaking down a program into small, independent parts called modules.
Definition: Modularity
