Computer Fundamentals: Hardware and Software

• Computer fundamentals involve understanding the basic components and operations of a computer system
• Hardware components are the physical parts of a computer
• Data representation is how information is encoded and stored within a computer
• Operating systems manage hardware and software resources
• Software types include system software and application software

Hardware Components

• The central processing unit (CPU) is the core of the computer, performing calculations and executing instructions
• The CPU consists of the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), the control unit, and registers
• The ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations
• The control unit fetches instructions and data, decodes instructions, and controls the execution of these instructions
• Registers are small, high-speed storage locations used to hold temporary data and instructions
• Memory, including RAM (random access memory), is used to store data and instructions that the CPU is actively using
• RAM is volatile, meaning data is lost when power is turned off
• ROM (read-only memory) stores permanent instructions and data that cannot be easily modified
• Storage devices, such as hard drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs), are used for long-term data storage
• HDDs use magnetic platters to store data
• SSDs use flash memory for faster access times and greater durability
• Input devices allow users to enter data and commands into the computer
• Examples of input devices include keyboards, mice, touchscreens, and microphones
• Output devices display or present processed data to the user
• Examples of output devices include monitors, printers, and speakers
• Motherboard is the main circuit board that connects all the hardware components
• Power supply unit (PSU) provides power to all the components

Data Representation

• Data in computers is represented using the binary number system, which consists of 0s and 1s
• A bit is the smallest unit of data, representing a single binary value (0 or 1)
• A byte consists of 8 bits
• Different data types are represented using specific encoding schemes
• Integers are represented using binary numbers
• Floating-point numbers are represented using standards like IEEE 754
• Characters are represented using character encoding schemes like ASCII and Unicode
• ASCII uses 7 or 8 bits to represent characters
• Unicode uses a variable number of bytes (typically 1 to 4) to represent a wider range of characters from different languages
• Images, audio, and video are represented using various digital formats
• Images can be represented as bitmaps or vector graphics
• Audio is digitized and compressed using various codecs
• Video is a sequence of images (frames) combined with audio
• Data can be organized into various logical structures
• Files are collections of related data stored together
• Databases are structured collections of data organized for efficient access and management

Operating Systems

• An operating system (OS) is a software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides services for computer programs
• Kernel is the core component of the operating system, responsible for managing the system's resources
• Device drivers are software components that enable the operating system to communicate with hardware devices
• The operating system provides a user interface (UI) for users to interact with the computer
• Command-line interface (CLI) allows users to interact with the OS by typing commands
• Graphical user interface (GUI) allows users to interact with the OS using visual elements like windows, icons, and menus
• Operating systems manage files and directories
• File systems organize and store files on storage devices
• Operating systems manage processes, allocating resources and scheduling their execution
• Operating systems provide memory management, allocating and deallocating memory to programs
• Operating systems handle security, controlling access to system resources and protecting against threats
• Examples of operating systems include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS

Software Types

• System software manages and controls computer hardware
• Operating systems are a type of system software
• Device drivers are system software
• Utility programs perform specific tasks to manage and maintain the computer, such as file management, disk defragmentation, and system cleanup
• Application software allows users to perform specific tasks
• Word processors create and edit documents
• Web browsers allow users to access the internet
• Spreadsheets perform calculations and manage data in tabular form
• Database management systems (DBMS) store, retrieve, and manage data
• Programming languages are used to create software applications
• High-level languages are easier to read and write and require translation into machine code
• Low-level languages are closer to machine code and provide more direct control over hardware
• Compilers translate high-level language code into machine code before execution
• Interpreters execute high-level language code line by line