A computer system comprises two major components: hardware and software.
Hardware refers to all physical items associated with a computer system.
Software is a set of instructions enabling hardware to perform specific tasks.
Integration of physical hardware and non-physical software forms a computer system.
Input Devices: Allow users to input programs and data, common examples include keyboard, mouse, and scanners.
Processor: Manipulates input data into required information, executes computer instructions.
Memory: Main memory from which CPU fetches instructions and data, also known as primary memory, volatile in nature.
Output Devices: Display processed data (information), common examples are monitors and printers.
Storage: Usually refers to secondary storage, stores data and programs permanently for future use.
Peripheral equipment are the hardware devices attached to the computer. It includes all input, output, and secondary storage devices attached to the computer.
Computer software is composed of system software and application software
Software makes the computer perform meaningful tasks, comprises planned, step-by-step instructions to turn data into information.
System Software
- consists of general program ( programs that provide the environment to run the application programs) written for a computer.
System software
it comprises programs, which interact with the hardware at a very basic level.
System software
It is the basic necessity of a computer system or its proper functioning.
System software
It serves as the interface between hardware and the user. The operating system, compilers and utility programs are examples of system software.