10 min read
Glossary
Look up any term from this course. Each entry links back to the lesson that taught it.
| Term | Definition | Lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Central processing unit (CPU) | The part of the computer that fetches program instructions from memory, decodes them and carries them out. | Basic Computer Architecture |
| Computer | An electronic machine that accepts data (input), processes it by following a set of instructions (a program), stores it, and produces results (output). | What Is a Computer? |
| Data | Raw facts and figures that have not yet been processed or given meaning. | What Is a Computer? |
| Hardware | The physical parts of a computer system that you can touch. | What Is a Computer? |
| Information | Data that has been processed and given context so that it is meaningful and useful. | What Is a Computer? |
| Integrated circuit (IC) | A complete electronic circuit, containing many transistors and other components, made on one small piece of silicon. | The Five Generations of Computers |
| Microprocessor | A complete CPU built on a single integrated circuit. | The Five Generations of Computers |
| Software | Programs — sets of instructions — that tell the hardware what to do. | What Is a Computer? |
| Stored-program concept | Program instructions are stored in main memory alongside data, so the computer can fetch and run them automatically, and a new program can be loaded without rewiring the machine. | Basic Computer Architecture |
| Transistor | A small semiconductor device that switches or amplifies electric signals. It replaced the vacuum tube. | The Five Generations of Computers |
| Vacuum tube | A glass tube with most of the air removed that controls the flow of electric current. It can act as a switch or an amplifier. | The Five Generations of Computers |
More lessons in Introduction to Computer Systems · Previous: Course Exam