Foundation – Basic Of Computer & It’s Fundamentals 1

Components of Computer System

C
omputers are electronic devices that accept data, perform operations, display results, and store data or results as needed. It is a
combination of hardware and software resources that are integrated and provide users with various functions. Hardware is the
physical components of a computer such as processors, memory devices, display, keyboard, etc., while software is the set of
programs or instructions required for the hardware resources to function properly.

2.1. Component of a Computer

Basically, a computer has 3 important components:
• Input Unit • Central Processing Unit (CPU) • Output Unit
Although there are other components, these three are primarily
responsible for the operation of the computer. They need to work
perfectly together as this will ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Therefore, we can even call them the basic elements of computer
systems.

2.2. Input Unit

The input unit consists of input devices which are connected to the
computer. These devices take input and convert it into a binary language
that the computer understands. Common input devices such us keyboard,
FIGURE 1:BLOCK DIAGRAM OF MAJOR COMPONENT OF COMPUTER SYSTEM
mouse, etc.

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• The input unit is formed by connecting one or more input devices to a computer.
• A user enters data and instructions via input devices such as keyboard, mouse, etc.
• The input unit is used to provide data to the processor for further processing.

2.3. Central Processing Unit

When information is entered into a computer using an input device, it is processed by a processor. The CPU is called the brain of
the computer because it is the control center of the computer. It first fetches instructions from memory and then interprets them to
know what to do. Data can be retrieved from memory or an input unit if desired. The CPU then performs or executes the necessary
calculations and then stores the output or displays it on an output device. A CPU has three main parts, each responsible for a different
function: the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), the Control Unit (CU), and the Storage Registers.
A. Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)
As the name suggests, the ALU performs mathematical calculations and makes logical decisions. Arithmetic calculations
include addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Logical decision making involves comparing two items of data to
see which is greater, less, or equal.
• The Arithmetic Logic Unit is the main component of the CPU.
• It is the basic building block of the CPU.
• Arithmetic and logical units are numerical schemes used to perform arithmetic and logical operations.
• The function of the arithmetic and logic unit is to provide direct input and output access to the processor controller, main
memory (random access memory or RAM for a personal computer), and input/output devices.
• Input and output flow along electronic paths called buses.

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B. Control Unit
Control unit coordinates and controls the flow of data to and from the CPU, and controls all operations of the ALU, memory
registers, and input/output devices. It is also responsible for executing all instructions stored in the program. It decodes the
fetched instruction, interprets it, and sends control signals to the I/O devices until the ALU and memory do what they need
to do correctly.
• It receives external instructions or commands and converts them into control signal sequences.
• It controls many execution units (i.e., ALU, data buffers and registers) located in the CPU.
• It also handles tasks such as fetching, decoding, processing and saving the results.
C. Memory Registers
The register is a temporary storage device for CPU. They are used for the direct use of the processor. Registers can be of
different sizes (16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit, etc.), and each CPU register has a specific function, such as storing data, storing
instructions, storing the address of a location in memory. etc. User registers can be used by assembly language programmers
to store operands, intermediate results, etc. The accumulator (ACC) is the main register of the ALU and contains one of the
operands for the operations performed by the ALU.
• A memory device is the main storage of a computer.
• It stores data and instructions.
• Data and instructions are permanently stored on the device so that they are always available when needed.

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2.4. Output Unit

An output device consists of output devices connected to a computer. It converts binary data from CPU into human readable
form. Common output devices are monitors, printers, plotters, etc.
• The output devices display or prints the processed data in a user-friendly format.
• An output unit is created by connecting an output device to a computer.
• An output unit accepts information from the CPU and displays it in human-readable form.

FIGURE 2: I NPUT, OUTPUT, STORAGE DEVICES

2.5. Hardware & Software

Computer hardware and software are both essential components of a computer system. In short, the hardware and software
make the system compatible with the user. In this unit, we will discuss the main differences between computer hardware and software.

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A. Computer Hardware

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer. Computer hardware is any part of the computer that we can
touch. These are the main electronic devices used to
make computers. Examples of computer hardware
include processors, storage devices, monitors,
printers, keyboards, mice, and CPUs. There are 4
main components of computer hardware, as shown in
Figure2:

• Input Devices
• Output Devices
• Storage Devices
• Internal Component
B. Computer Software FIGURE 3: COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER

Software is a set of instructions, procedures, and documents that perform various tasks on a computer system. We can also
say that computer software is the programming code that is executed in the computer processor. The code can be machine-level
code or code written for the operating system. Examples of software include MS-Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Chrome,
Photoshop, MySQL, etc. There are 2 main components of computer hardware, as shown in Figure2:

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• System Software
• Application Software

TABLE 1: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

2.6. Operating System

An operating system (OS) is software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services
to computer programs. When you start using a computer system, the operating system (OS) acts as an interface between you and the

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computer hardware. An operating system is actually a kind of underlying software that belongs to system software and supports the
basic functions of a computer, such as memory management, task scheduling, and peripheral control.
Here are some of the basic functions of an operating system:

» Memory Management: The operating system manages the computer's memory by allocating memory to different programs
and tasks.

» Process management: The operating system manages computer processes by scheduling the execution of various programs
and tasks.

» File Management: An operating system manages computer files by storing them on disk and allowing different programs and
users to access them.

» Input/Output (I/O) Management: An operating system manages a computer's I/O devices by providing a common interface
for different programs and users to access them.

» Security: Operating systems provide security by preventing unauthorized access to computer resources.

There are many different OS available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the most popular operating systems
include Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. The operating system is an essential part of any computer system. It provides the
foundation for all other software to run on. Without an operating system, a computer would be useless.

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