what is a computer

What is a computer ?

Computers are electronic machines which can accept data in a
certain form, process the data, and give the results of the processing
in a specified format as information. Three basic steps are involved in
the process. First, data is fed into the computer’s memory. Then,
when the program is run, the computer performs a set of instructions
and processes the data. Finally, we can see the results (the output) on
the screen or in printed form .
A set of instructions that directs the computer to perform some
functions is known as software, and the electronic and electromechanical
parts that make up a computer system are called
hardware. A standard computer system consists of three main
hardware sections: the central processing unit (CPU), the main
memory, and the peripherals.
Storage devices (floppy, hard, or optical disks) provide a permanent
storage of both data and programs. Disk drives are used to handle
floppy, hard, or optical disks. Input devices enable data to go into the
computer’s memory. The most common input devices are the mouse
and the keyboard. Output devices enable us to extract the finished
product from the system. For example, the computer shows the output
on the monitor or prints the results onto paper by means of a printer.
On the rear panel of the computer, there are several ports into which
we can plug a wide range of peripherals – external modems, printers,
optical drives, and scanners. These are the main physical units of a
computer system. The way the physical units of a computer system
are put together is generally known as the configuration.