WHAT IS COMPUTER

 The word “computer” is comes from the word “TO

COMPUTE” means to calculate.
 A computer is normally considered to be a calculation
device which can performthe arithmetic operations very
speedily.
 A computer may be defined as a device which operates upon
the data.
 Data can be in the form of numbers, letters, symbols, size
etc. And it comes in various shapes & sizes depending upon
the type of computer application.
 A computer can store, process & retrieve data as and when
we desired.
 A computer first it gets the Data, does Process on it and then
produces Information.

PROCESS INFORMATION
DATA

DEFINATION OF COMPUTER:

Computer is an electronic device that takes input data from the

user and processes these data under the control of set of
instructions (program) and gives the desired result as output and
may saves output for the future use. A computer along with
additional hardware and software together is called a computer
system.

Functionalities of a Computer

If we look at it in a very broad sense, any digital computer carries

out the following five functions −

Step 1 − Takes data as input.

Step 2 − Stores the data/instructions in its memory and uses

them as required.
Step 3 − Processes the data and converts it into useful
information.

Step 4 − Generates the output.

Step 5 − Controls all the above four steps.

THE COMPONENTS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM ARE:

1. INPUT DEVICES
2. CPU(central processing unit)
 CU(Control unit)
 ARITHMETIC & LOGIC UNIT
 Memory unit
3. OUTPUT DEVICES

Input Unit
This unit contains devices with the help of which we enter data
into the computer. This unit creates a link between the user and
the computer. The input devices translate the information into a
form understandable by the computer.

All the data received by the computer goes through the input
unit. The input unit comprises different devices like a mouse,
keyboard, scanner, etc. In other words, each of these devices acts
as a mediator between the users and the computer.
The data that is to be processed is put through the input unit.
The computer accepts the raw data in binary form. It then
processes the data and produces the desired output.
The 3 major functions of the input unit are-
 Take the data to be processed by the user.
 Convert the given data into machine-readable form.
 And then, transmit the converted data into the main
memory of the computer. The sole purpose is to connect the
user and the computer. In addition, this creates easy
communication between them.

CPU – Central Processing Unit

Central Processing Unit or the CPU, is the brain of the computer.
It works the same way a human brain works. As the brain
controls all human activities, similarly the CPU controls all the
tasks.
Moreover, the CPU conducts all the arithmetical and logical
operations in the computer.
Now the CPU comprises of two units, namely – ALU (Arithmetic
Logic Unit) and CU (Control Unit). Both of these units work in
sync. The CPU processes the data as a whole.
Let us see what particular tasks are assigned to both units.

ALU – Arithmetic Logic Unit

The Arithmetic Logic Unit is made of two terms, arithmetic and
logic. There are two primary functions that this unit performs.
1. Data is inserted through the input unit into the primary
memory. Performs the basic arithmetical operation on it.
Like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It
performs all sorts of calculations required on the data. Then
sends back data to the storage.
 2. The unit is also responsible for performing logical operations
like AND, OR, Equal to, Less than, etc. In addition to this it
conducts merging, sorting, and selection of the given data.
CU – Control Unit
The control unit as the name suggests is the controller of all the
activities/tasks and operations. All this is performed inside the
computer.
The memory unit sends a set of instructions to the control unit.
Then the control unit in turn converts those instructions. After
that these instructions are converted to control signals.

These control signals help in prioritizing and scheduling

activities. Thus, the control unit coordinates the tasks inside the
computer in sync with the input and output units.

Memory Unit
All the data that has to be processed or has been processed is
stored in the memory unit. The memory unit acts as a hub of all
the data. It transmits it to the required part of the computer
whenever necessary.
The memory unit works in sync with the CPU. This helps in
faster accessing and processing of the data. Thus, making tasks
easier and quicker.

There are two types of computer memory-

1. Primary memory – This type of memory cannot store a vast
amount of data. Therefore, it is only used to store recent
data. The data stored in this is temporary. It can get erased
once the power is switched off. Therefore, is also called
temporary memory or main memory.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It is an example of

primary memory. This memory is directly accessible by the
CPU. It is used for reading and writing purposes. For data to
be processed, it has to be first transferred to the RAM and
then to the CPU.

2. Secondary memory – As explained above, the primary

memory stores temporary data. Thus it cannot be accessed
in the future. For permanent storage purposes, secondary
memory is used. It is also called permanent memory or
 auxiliary memory. The hard disk is an example of secondary
memory. Even in a power failure data does not get erased
easily.

Output
There is nothing to be amazed by what the output unit is used
for. All the information sent to the computer once processed is
received by the user through the output unit. Devices like
printers, monitors, projectors, etc. all come under the output
unit.
The output unit displays the data either in the form of a soft copy
or a hard copy. The printer is for the hard copy. The monitor is
for the display. The output unit accepts the data in binary form
from the computer. It then converts it into a readable form for the
user.
Some of the popular components of output devices are
Speakers, Headphones, Screen (Monitors), Printers, Braille
embossers, projectors, televisions, etc.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER

Some important characteristics of the computer are as follow:

 Automatic:

 Computers are automatic machines because it works by

itself without human intervention.
 Once it started on a job they carry on until the job is
finished.
 Computer cannot start themselves.
 They can works from the instructions which are stored
inside the system inthe form of programs which specify how
a particular job is to be done.

 Accuracy:

 The accuracy of a computer is very high.

 The degree of accuracy of a particular computer depends
upon its design.
  Errors can occur by the computer. But these are due to
human weakness, due to incorrect data, but not due to the
technological weakness.

 Speed:

 Computer is a very fact device. It can perform the amount of

work in fewseconds for which a human can take an entire
year.
 While talking about computer speed we do not talk in terms
of seconds and milliseconds but in microseconds.
 A powerful computer is capable of performing several billion
(109) simplearithmetic operations per second.

 Diligence:

 Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony,

tiredness & lack of concentration.
 It can continuously work for hours without creating any
error & without grumbling.
 If you give ten million calculations to performed, it will
perform with exactly the same accuracy & speed as the first
one.

 Versatility:

 It is one of the most wonderful features about the computer.

 One moment it is preparing the results of a particular
examination, the next moment it is busy with preparing
electricity bills and in between it may be helping an office
secretary to trace an important letter in seconds.

 Power of remembering:

 Computer can store and recall any amount of data because

of its high storage capacity of its storage devices.
 Every piece of information can be retained as long as
desired by the user and can be recalled as and when
required.
  Even after several years, if the information recalled, it will
be as accurate as on the day when it was filled to the
computers.

 No I.Q

 A computer is not a magical device; it processes no

intelligence of its own.
 Its I.Q. is zero.
 It has to be told what to do & in what sequence.
 It cannot take its own decision.

 No Fallings:

 A Computer has no feelings because they are machines.

 Based on our feelings, task, knowledge and experience we
often make certain judgments in our day today life.
 But Computer goes exactly the way which we have given the
instructions.

Basic Applications of Computers

Computers are used in every field of life, such as homes,

businesses, educational institutions, research organizations, the
medical field, government offices, entertainment, etc. Today we
can not imagine growing our technology without computers. The
various field where the computer is very essential are:

Science

Today computer is the primary work tool in the field of science. It

is the best-suited machine for collecting, analyzing, classifying,
and storing data. It becomes the most essential medium to
spread knowledge internally and internationally. It allows
scientists from different locations to work together and share
ideas on the same project.

Defence System

A computer performs a vital to control defense system.

Computers are used to track airplanes, missiles, tanks, and
different kinds of weapons. Once the radar system tracks a
missile and artificial intelligence is programmed to target a
missile and destroy it before it comes on the surface. It also used
for GPS tracking, controlling defense vehicles, records of all
members of the military.

Medical

The computer plays a very important role in medical science such

as record patients’ information monitoring heart rate, oxygen
level, and blood pressure. To conduct various surgeries junior
doctors get the help of another professional doctor by web
conferencing. Research is also spread with the help of computers
in the health sector.

Education

Today learning becomes easy because of computers. Anyone

employed or student can learn any stage of life with the help of a
computer. Computers are very crucial for online classes,
download study material on the internet. Computers are also
used to track student attendance and learning strategies.
Coaching and institutes increased their areas by audio-visual
aids using computers.

Banking

A computer performs a crucial role in banking sectors, by storing

several account holder details on a bank server. All transactions
such as deposits and withdrawals perform by a computer. A
banking company can easily monitor all ATMs and passbook
printing machines.

Government Sectors

Government can easily monitor government sectors such as road

services, railway, development, and other rising funds. The
information of every citizen is stored on the server through the
computer.

Entertainment
Today most people are so busy and they do not easily get time to
fresh their mind. We can play various interesting video games
using a computer. We can watch movies, TV shows, and reality
shows on the computer. A computer is also used to create
sarcastic memes and make us happy.

GENERATION OF COMPUTERS The history of computer

development is in reference to different generation of computing
devices. The first generation computers appeared in mid-1940s.
The present day computer, however, has undergone rapid
changes for the last seven decades. This period, during which the
evolution of computer took place, can be divided into five distinct
phases known as Generations of Computers that are being
presented in the table given below

Generation of Computer

Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology

a computer is/was being used. Initially, the generation term
was used to distinguish between varying hardware
technologies.

As the time passed, the device of more suitable and reliable

machine was need which could perform our work more quickly.
During this time, in the year 1946, the first successful
electronic computer called ENIAC was developed and it was the
starting point of the current generation of computer

Generations of Generations
Evolving hardware
computers timeline

First generation 1946-1959 Vacuum tube based

Second generation 1959-1965 Transistor based

Integrated circuit
Third generation 1965-1971
based

Fourth generation 1971-1980 Microprocessor based

Artificial intelligence
Fifth generation 1980-present
based

FIRST GENRATION

The period of first generation : 1942-1954. Vaccum tube based.

ENIAC was the world first successful electronic computer

which was develops by the two scientists namely J. P. Eckert
and J. W. Mauchy. It was the beginning of first generation
computer. The full form of ENIAC is 'Electronic Numeric
Integrated And Calculator' ENIAC was a very huge and big
computer and its weight was 30 tones. It could store only
limited or small amount of information. Initially in the first
generation computer the concept of vacuum tubes was used. A
vacuum tube was such an electronic component which had
very less work efficiency and so it could not work properly and
it required a large cooling system.
 Characteristics of First Generation of Computers (1940s-
1950s)

 Main electronic component: vacuum tube

 Main memory: magnetic drums and magnetic tapes
 Programming language: machine language
 Power: consume a lot of electricity and generate a lot of heat.
 Speed and size: very slow and very large in size (often taking
up entire room).
 Input/output devices: punched cards and paper tape.
 Examples: ENIAC, UNIVAC1, IBM 650, IBM 701, etc.
 Quantity: there were about 100 different vacuum tube
computers produced between 1942 and1963.

SECOND GENERATION

The period of second generation : 1952-1964. Transistor based.

As the development moved further, the second generation

computers knocked the door. In this generation, transistors
were used as the electronic component instead of vaccum
tubes .A transistors is much smaller in the size than that of a
vaccum tube. As the size of electrons components decreased
from vaccum tube of transistor, the size of computer also
decreased and it became much smaller than that of earlier
computer.

Characteristics of Second Generation of Computers (1950s-

1960s)

 Main electronic component: transistor

 Memory: magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk
 Programming language: assembly language
 Power and size: low power consumption, generated less
heat, and smaller in size (in comparison with the first
generation computers).
 Speed: improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison
with the first generation computers).
 Input/output devices: punched cards and magnetic tape.
 Examples: IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107,
etc.

THIRD GENERATION

The period of third generation : 1964-1972. Integrated Circuit

based.

The third generation computers were invented in the year

1964. In this generation of computer, IC (Integrated circuits)
was used as the electronic component for computers. The
development of IC gave birth to a new field of microelectronics.
The main advantage of IC is not only its small size but its
superior performance and reliability than the previous circuits.
It was first developed by T.S Kilby. This generation of computer
has huge storage capacity and higher calculating speed.

Characteristics of Third Generation of Computers (1960s-

1970s)

 Main electronic component: integrated circuits (ICs)

 Memory: large magnetic core, magnetic tape / disk
 Programming language: high level language (FORTRAN,
BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C, etc.)
 Size: smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than second
generation computers (they were called minicomputers).
 Speed: improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison
with the second generation computers).
 Input / output devices: magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor,
printer, etc.
 Examples: IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.

FOURTH GENERATION

The period of fourth generation : 1972-1990. VLSI

microprocessor based.

This is the generation where we are working today. The

computers which we see around us belong to the fourth
generation computers. 'Micro processor' is the main concept
behind this generation of computer.

A microprocessor is a single chip (L.S.I circuit), which is used

in a computer for any arithmetical or logical functions to be
performed in any program. The honaur of developing
microprocessor goes to Ted Hoff of U.S.A. He developed first
micro-processor, the Intel 4004, as he was working for Intel
Corporation, U.S.A with the use of microprocessor in the fourth
generation computers, the size of computer become very fast
and efficient.

It is evident that the next generation of computer i.e. fifth

generation will be developed soon. In that generation, computer
will possess artificial intelligence and it would be able to take
self decisions like a human being.

Characteristics of Fourth Generation of Computers (1970s-

present)

 Main electronic component: very large-scale integration

(VLSI) and microprocessor.
 VLSI: thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
 Memory: semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)
 RAM (random-access memory): A type of data storage
(memory element) used in computers that temporary stores
of programs and data (volatile: its contents are lost when the
computer is turned off).
 ROM (read-only memory): A type of data storage used in
computers that permanently stores data and programs (non-
volatile: its contents are retained even when the computer is
turned off).
 Programming language: high level language (Python, C#,
Java, JavaScript, Rust, Kotlin, etc.). A mix of both third- and
fourth-generation languages
 Size: smaller, cheaper and more efficient than third
generation computers.>
 Speed: improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability (in
comparison with the third generation computers).
 Input / output devices: keyboard, pointing devices, optical
scanning, monitor, printer, etc.
 Network: a group of two or more computer systems linked
together.
 Examples: IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh,
etc.

Fifth Generations of Computers

The period of fifth generation : 1990-onwards.ULSI

microprocessor based.

Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial

intelligence, are still in development, though there are some
applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used
today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is
helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Quantum
computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically
 change the face of computers in years to come. The goal of
fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to
natural language input and are capable of learning and self-
organization.

Characteristics of Fifth Generation of Computers (the

present and the future)

 Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence,

uses the Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) technology and
parallel processing method.
 ULSI: millions of transistors on a single microchip
 Parallel processing method: use two or more
microprocessors to run tasks simultaneously.
 Language: understand natural language (human language).
 Power: consume less power and generate less heat.
 Speed: remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and
reliability (in comparison with the fourth generation
computers).
 Size: portable and small in size, and have a huge storage
capacity.
 Input / output device: keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad
(or touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognise
voice / speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
 Example: desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.
Types of Computer

We can categorize computer in two ways: on the basis of data

handling capabilities and size.

On the basis of data handling capabilities, the computer is

of three types:

o Analogue Computer
o Digital Computer
 o Hybrid Computer

Analog Computer
Analog Computers are particularly designed to process analog
data. Continuous data that changes continuously and cannot
have discrete values are called analog data. So, an analog
computer is used where we don’t need exact values or need
approximate values such as speed, temperature, pressure, etc. It
can directly accept the data from the measuring device without
first converting it into numbers and codes. It measures the
continuous changes in physical quantity. It gives output as a
reading on a dial or scale. For example speedometer, mercury
thermometer, etc.
Digital Computer
Digital computers are designed in such a way that they can
easily perform calculations and logical operations at high speed.
It takes raw data as input and processes it with programs stored
in its memory to produce the final output. It only understands
the binary input 0 and 1, so the raw input data is converted to 0
and 1 by the computer and then it is processed by the computer
to produce the result or final output. All modern computers, like
laptops, desktops including smartphones are digital computers.
Hybrid Computer
As the name suggests hybrid, which means made by combining
two different things. Similarly, the hybrid computer is a
combination of both analog and digital computers. Hybrid
computers are fast like analog computers and have memory and
accuracy like digital computers. So, it has the ability to process
both continuous and discrete data. For working when it accepts
analog signals as input then it converts them into digital form
before processing the input data. So, it is widely used in
specialized applications where both analog and digital data are
required to be processed. A processor which is used in petrol
pumps that converts the measurements of fuel flow into
quantity and price is an example of a hybrid computer.
On the basis of size, the computer can be of five types:

Supercomputer
When we talk about speed, then the first name that comes to
mind when thinking of computers is supercomputers. They are
the biggest and fastest computers (in terms of speed of
processing data). Supercomputers are designed such that they
can process a huge amount of data, like processing trillions of
instructions or data just in a second. This is because of the
thousands of interconnected processors in supercomputers. It is
basically used in scientific and engineering applications such as
weather forecasting, scientific simulations, and nuclear energy
research. It was first developed by Roger Cray in 1976.
Characteristics of Supercomputers
 Supercomputers are the computers that are the fastest and
they are also very expensive.
 It can calculate up to ten trillion individual calculations per
second, this is also the reason which makes it even faster.
 It is used in the stock market or big organizations for
managing the online currency world such as Bitcoin etc.
 It is used in scientific research areas for analyzing data
obtained from exploring the solar system, satellites, etc.
Mainframe computer
Mainframe computers are designed in such a way that they can
support hundreds or thousands of users at the same time. It
also supports multiple programs simultaneously. So, they can
execute different processes simultaneously. All these features
make the mainframe computer ideal for big organizations like
banking, telecom sectors, etc., which process a high volume of
data in general.
Characteristics of Mainframe Computers
 It is also an expensive or costly computer.
 It has high storage capacity and great performance.
 It can process a huge amount of data (like data involved in
the banking sector) very quickly.
 It runs smoothly for a long time and has a long life.
Minicomputer
Minicomputer is a medium size multiprocessing computer. In
this type of computer, there are two or more processors, and it
supports 4 to 200 users at one time. Minicomputer is similar to
Microcontroller. Minicomputers are used in places like institutes
or departments for different work like billing, accounting,
inventory management, etc. It is smaller than a mainframe
computer but larger in comparison to the microcomputer.
Characteristics of Minicomputer
 Its weight is low.
 Because of its low weight, it is easy to carry anywhere.
 less expensive than a mainframe computer.
 It is fast.
Workstation Computer
A workstation computer is designed for technical or scientific
applications. It consists of a fast microprocessor, with a large
amount of RAM and a high-speed graphic adapter. It is a single-
user computer. It is generally used to perform a specific task
with great accuracy.
Characteristics of Workstation Computer
 It is expensive or high in cost.
 They are exclusively made for complex work purposes.
 It provides large storage capacity, better graphics, and a more
powerful CPU when compared to a PC.
 It is also used to handle animation, data analysis, CAD, audio
and video creation, and editing.
Personal Computer (PC)
Personal Computers is also known as a microcomputer. It is
basically a general-purpose computer designed for individual
use. It consists of a microprocessor as a central processing
unit(CPU), memory, input unit, and output unit. This kind of
computer is suitable for personal work such as making an
assignment, watching a movie, or at the office for office work,
etc. For example, Laptops and desktop computers.
Characteristics of Personal Computer (PC)
 In this limited number of software can be used.
 It is the smallest in size.
 It is designed for personal use.
 It is easy to use.

Tablet and Smartphones

Tablets and Smartphones are the types of computers that are

pocket friendly and easy to carry is these are handy. This is one
of the best use of modern technology. These devices have better
hardware capabilities, extensive operating systems, and better
multimedia functionality. smartphones and tablets contain a
number of sensors and are also able to provide wireless
communication protocols.
History of Computers
Before computers were developed people used sticks, stones,
and bones as counting tools. As technology advanced and the
human mind improved with time more computing devices were
developed like Abacus, Napier’s Bones, etc. These devices were
used as computers for performing mathematical computations
but not very complex ones.

Some of the popular computing devices are described below,

starting from the oldest to the latest or most advanced
technology developed:
Abacus
Around 4000 years ago, the Chinese invented the Abacus, and it
is believed to be the first computer. The history of computers
begins with the birth of the abacus.
Structure: Abacus is basically a wooden rack that has metal
rods with beads mounted on them.
Working of abacus: In the abacus, the beads were moved by the
abacus operator according to some rules to perform arithmetic
calculations. In some countries like China, Russia, and Japan,
the abacus is still used by their people.

Napier’s Bones
Napier’s Bones was a manually operated calculating device and
as the name indicates, it was invented by John Napier. In this
device, he used 9 different ivory strips (bones) marked with
numbers to multiply and divide for calculation. It was also the
first machine to use the decimal point system for calculation.

Pascaline
It is also called an Arithmetic Machine or Adding Machine. A
French mathematician-philosopher Blaise Pascal invented this
between 1642 and 1644. It was the first mechanical and
automatic calculator. It is invented by Pascal to help his father,
a tax accountant in his work or calculation. It could perform
addition and subtraction in quick time. It was basically a
wooden box with a series of gears and wheels. It is worked by
rotating wheel like when a wheel is rotated one revolution, it
rotates the neighbouring wheel and a series of windows is given
on the top of the wheels to read the totals.
Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz wheel
A German mathematician-philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
in 1673 developed this device by improving Pascal’s invention to
develop this machine. It was basically a digital mechanical
calculator, and it was called the stepped reckoner as it was
made of fluted drums instead of gears (used in the previous
model of Pascaline).
Difference Engine
Charles Babbage who is also known as the “Father of Modern
Computer” designed the Difference Engine in the early 1820s.
Difference Engine was a mechanical computer which is capable
of performing simple calculations. It works with help of steam as
it was a steam-driven calculating machine, and it was designed
to solve tables of numbers like logarithm tables.
Analytical Engine
Again in 1830 Charles Babbage developed another calculating
machine which was Analytical Engine. Analytical Engine was a
mechanical computer that used punch cards as input. It was
capable of performing or solving any mathematical problem and
storing information as a permanent memory (storage).
Tabulating Machine
Herman Hollerith, an American statistician invented this
machine in the year 1890. Tabulating Machine was a
mechanical tabulator that was based on punch cards. It was
capable of tabulating statistics and record or sort data or
information. This machine was used by U.S. Census in the year
1890. Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine Company was started by
Hollerith and this company later became International Business
Machine (IBM) in the year 1924.
Differential Analyzer
Differential Analyzer was the first electronic computer
introduced in the year 1930 in the United States. It was
basically an analog device that was invented by Vannevar Bush.
This machine consists of vacuum tubes to switch electrical
signals to perform calculations. It was capable of doing 25
calculations in a few minutes.
Mark I
In the year 1937, major changes began in the history of
computers when Howard Aiken planned to develop a machine
that could perform large calculations or calculations involving
large numbers. In the year 1944, Mark I computer was built as a
partnership between IBM and Harvard. It was also the first
programmable digital computer marking a new era in the
computer world.
Input Output Devices

Input Devices
Input device is the device that performs the task of delivering
instructions and messages given by the user to the computer
system. In simple words, the Input Device is a device that accepts
the instructions given by the external user and converts it into an
accepted form of the computer and gives it to the computer
system. So that the request made by the user can be further
processed by the computer system.

FUNCTIONS OF INPUT DEVICES:

 Accept the data from the outside worlds.

 Convert that data into computer coded information.

 Supply this data to Central Processing Unit for further

processing.

Types of Input Devices

There are two types of input devices -:

 Pointing input devices

 Non Pointing input devices

1. What is Pointing Input Devices?

A pointing input device is a device through which we perform any
particular process or task by clicking or pointing to a particular
place in the computer monitor. Under this, devices such as
Mouse, Joystick, Trackball, Touch screen, are included.
2 What is Non-Pointing Input Devices?
The non-Pointing input device is a device through which we
cannot directly point to a particular process or program. With
these types of devices, we input instructions like text, images, or
media into the computer system. Under these, Keyboard,
Scanner, OCR, MICR, Microphone input devices are included.

Now let’s see some examples of Computer Input Devices.

10 Examples of Input Devices

1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Joystick
4. Touch screen
5. Light pen
6. Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR)
7. Optical Character Reader (OCR)
8. Barcode reader
9. Scanner
10. Microphone

Let’s know in detail about all the input devices like Keyboard,
Mouse, Light pen, etc. which have been discussed above.

Keyboard

Keyboard is the most common and very popular input device

which helps to input data to the computer. The layout of the
keyboard is like that of traditional typewriter, although there are
some additional keys provided for performing additional
functions.
Keyboards are of two sizes 84 keys or 101/102 keys, but now
keyboards with 104 keys or 108 keys are also available for
Windows and Internet.

The keys on the keyboard are as follows −

S.No Keys & Description

1 Typing Keys
These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit
keys (09) which generally give the same layout
as that of typewriters.
2 Numeric Keypad
It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor
movement. Generally, it consists of a set of 17
keys that are laid out in the same configuration
used by most adding machines and calculators.
3 Function Keys
The twelve function keys are present on the
keyboard which are arranged in a row at the top
of the keyboard. Each function key has a unique
meaning and is used for some specific purpose.
4 Control keys
These keys provide cursor and screen control. It
includes four directional arrow keys. Control
keys also include Home, End, Insert, Delete,
Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl),
Alternate(Alt), Escape(Esc).
5 Special Purpose Keys
Keyboard also contains some special purpose
keys such as Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, Num
Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen.

There are two types of keyboard.

 General purpose keyboard

 Special purpose keyboard

GENERAL PURPOSE KEYBOARD:

 Standard keyboard which are used in personal computers.

  It contains enough keys which are used in all types of
applications so they are known as general purpose
keyboard.

SPECIAL PURPOSE KEYBOARD:

 Special purpose keyboard is used for special purpose

applications which required faster data entry and rapid
interaction with the computer system.
 For example ATM used in banks used special purpose
keyboard which contains a few keys.

Mouse

Mouse is the most popular pointing device. It is a very famous

cursor-control device having a small palm size box with a round
ball at its base, which senses the movement of the mouse and
sends corresponding signals to the CPU when the mouse buttons
are pressed.

Generally, it has two buttons called the left and the right button
and a wheel is present between the buttons. A mouse can be
used to control the position of the cursor on the screen, but it
cannot be used to enter text into the computer.

Laptop computers come with a touchpad that works as a mouse.

It lets you control the movement of cursor or pointer by moving
your finger over the touchpad.

Advantages
 Easy to use
 Not very expensive
  Moves the cursor faster than the arrow keys of the
keyboard.
Common types of the mouse:

i) Trackball Mouse:

It is a stationary input device that has ball mechanism to move

the pointer or cursor on the screen. The ball is half inserted in
the device and can be easily rolled with finger, thumb or the palm
to move the pointer on the screen. The device has sensor to
detect the rotation of ball. It remains stationary; you don't need
to move it on the operating surface. So, it is an ideal device if you
have limited desk space as you don't need to move it like a
mouse.

ii) Mechanical Mouse:

It has a system of a ball and several rollers to track its

movement. It is a corded type of mouse. A mechanical mouse can
be used for high performance. The drawback is that they tend to
get dust into the mechanics and thus require regular cleaning.

iii) Optical Mouse:

An optical mouse uses optical electronics to track its movement.
It is more reliable than a mechanical mouse and also requires
less maintenance. However, its performance is affected by the
surface on which it is operated. Plain non-glossy mouse mat
should be used for best results. The rough surface may cause
problems for the optical recognition system, and the glossy
surface may reflect the light wrongly and thus may cause
tracking issues.

iv) Cordless or Wireless Mouse:

As the name suggests, this type of mouse lacks cable and uses
wireless technology such as IrDA (infrared) or radio (Bluetooth or
Wi-Fi) to control the movement of the cursor. It is used to
improve the experience of using a mouse. It uses batteries for its
power supply.

Joystick

Joystick is also a pointing device, which is used to move the

cursor position on a monitor screen. It is a stick having a
spherical ball at its both lower and upper ends. The lower
spherical ball moves in a socket. The joystick can be moved in all
four directions.
The function of the joystick is similar to that of a mouse. It is
mainly used in Computer Aided Designing (CAD) and playing
computer games.

Light Pen

Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It is used to select

a displayed menu item or draw pictures on the monitor screen. It
consists of a photocell and an optical system placed in a small
tube. When the tip of a light pen is moved over the monitor
screen and the pen button is pressed, its photocell sensing
element detects the screen location and sends the corresponding
signal to the CPU.

Scanner

Scanner is an input device, which works more like a photocopy

machine. It is used when some information is available on paper
and it is to be transferred to the hard disk of the computer for
further manipulation. Scanner captures images from the source
which are then converted into a digital form that can be stored on
the disk. These images can be edited before they are printed.
Types of Scanner:

i) Flatbed Scanner:

It has a glass pane and a moving optical CIS or CCD array. The
light illuminates the pane, and then the image is placed on the
glass pane. The light moves across the glass pane and scans the
document and thus produces its digital copy. You will need a
transparency adapter while scanning transparent slides.

ii) Handheld Scanner:

It is a small manual scanning device which is held by hand and

is rolled over a flat image that is to be scanned. The drawback in
using this device is that the hand should be steady while
scanning; otherwise, it may distort the image. One of the
commonly used handheld scanners is the barcode scanner which
you would have seen in shopping stores.

iii) Sheetfed Scanner:

In this scanner, the document is inserted into the slot provided in

the scanner. The main components of this scanner include the
sheet-feeder, scanning module, and calibration sheet. The light
does not move in this scanner. Instead, the document moves
through the scanner. It is suitable for scanning single page
documents, not for thick objects like books, magazines, etc.

iv)Drum Scanner:

Drum scanner has a photomultiplier tube (PMT) to scan images.

It does not have a charge-coupled device like a flatbed scanner.
The photomultiplier tube is extremely sensitive to light. The
image is placed on a glass tube, and the light moves across the
image, which produces a reflection of the image which is
captured by the PMT and processed. These scanners have high
resolution and are suitable for detailed scans.

v) Photo Scanner:
It is designed to scan photographs. It has high resolution and
color depth, which are required for scanning photographs. Some
photo scanners come with in-built software for cleaning and
restoring old photographs.

Digitizer

Digitizer is a computer input device that has a flat surface and

usually comes with a stylus. It enables the user to draw images
and graphics using the stylus as we draw on paper with a pencil.
The images or graphics drawn on the digitizer appear on the
computer monitor or display screen. The software converts the
touch inputs into lines and can also convert handwritten text to
typewritten words.

It can be used to capture handwritten signatures and data or

images from taped papers. Furthermore, it is also used to receive
information in the form of drawings and send output to a CAD
(Computer-aided design) application and software like AutoCAD.
Thus, it allows you to convert hand-drawn images into a format
suitable for computer processing.

Microphone

The microphone is a computer input device that is used to input

the sound. It receives the sound vibrations and converts them
into audio signals or sends to a recording medium. The audio
signals are converted into digital data and stored in the
computer. The microphone also enables the user to
telecommunicate with others. It is also used to add sound to
presentations and with webcams for video conferencing.

Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)

MICR computer input device is designed to read the text printed

with magnetic ink. MICR is a character recognition technology
that makes use of special magnetized ink which is sensitive to
magnetic fields. It is widely used in banks to process the cheques
and other organizations where security is a major concern. It can
process three hundred cheques in a minute with hundred-
percent accuracy. The details on the bottom of the cheque (MICR
No.) are written with magnetic ink. A laser printer with MICR
toner can be used to print the magnetic ink.

The device reads the details and sends to a computer for

processing. A document printed in magnetic ink is required to
pass through a machine which magnetizes the ink, and the
magnetic information is then translated into characters.
Optical Character Reader (OCR)

OCR computer input device is designed to convert the scanned

images of handwritten, typed or printed text into digital text. It is
widely used in offices and libraries to convert documents and
books into electronic files.

It processes and copies the physical form of a document using a

scanner. After copying the documents, the OCR software converts
the documents into a two-color (black and white), version called
bitmap. Then it is analyzed for light and dark areas, where the
dark areas are selected as characters, and the light area is
identified as background. It is widely used to convert hard copy
legal or historic documents into PDFs. The converted documents
can be edited if required like we edit documents created in ms
word.

Bar Code Readers

Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar coded data
(data in the form of light and dark lines). Bar coded data is
generally used in labelling goods, numbering the books, etc. It
may be a handheld scanner or may be embedded in a stationary
scanner. Bar Code Reader scans a bar code image, converts it
into an alphanumeric value, which is then fed to the computer
that the bar code reader is connected to.
Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

OMR is a special type of optical scanner used to recognize the

type of mark made by pen or pencil. It is used where one out of a
few alternatives is to be selected and marked. It is specially used
for checking the answer sheets of examinations having multiple
choice questions.

OUTPUT DEVICES

Output Devices are those devices which show us the result after
giving the input data to a computer system. Output can be in
different forms like image, graphic audio, video, etc.
What is an Output Device?
Any peripheral that accepts data from a computer and prints,
projects, or reproduces it is known as an output device. The
output may be audio, video, hard copy – printed paper, etc.
Output devices convert the computer data to human
understandable form. We give input to the computer using input
devices and the computer performs operations on the data and
displays the output to the user using the output device.
Monitor

The most general example of an output device is a monitor. It is

also known as a Visual Display Unit (VDU) and the major
function of a monitor is to display the processed data like images,
videos, text, audio, etc. A monitor arranges the microscopic dots
known as pixels in a rectangular pattern to make images. The
number of pixels present determines the sharpness of an image.

Monitors are further classified into two types- cathode-ray tubes

and flat panel displays.

Cathode Ray Tube: Cathode Ray Tube Monitors use cathode ray
tubes that help to produce images in the form of video signals on
the screen. In short, CRT generates a beam of electrons with the
help of electron guns that strike the inner surface of the
phosphorescent of the screen to generate images. The CRT
monitor holds millions of phosphorus dotes in three different
colors, i.e., red, blue, and green. The sharpness and quality of the
picture depend on the number and size of these pixels.

Flat Panel Display: A flat-panel display uses liquid crystal

technology or plasma to generate output. In such devices, light is
passed through liquid crystals to form pixels. Flat Panel Displays
have lesser volume, weight, and power consumption than a CRT.
They can be put on the wrist or could be hung on the wall. Some
examples of flat-panel displays are calculators, video games,
monitors, laptop computers, and graphical displays.

Plasma Monitor: Plasma Monitors are also flat panel displays

but use plasma display technology. In a plasma monitor, small
cells are present between two glass panels. These cells contain a
solution of noble gases and mercury so when the electricity
supply on the gas present in the cell converts into plasma and
produces UV light that creates an image. It is much better than
an LCD monitor. The resolution of this monitor is also high up to
1920 x 1920. It has a good contrast ratio, a high refresh rate, etc.

Printer

A printer is an output device that produces text and graphics on

a physical medium such as paper. Printed information is often
called hard copy because the information exists physically and is
a more permanent form of output than that presented on a VDU
(Monitor). Printers can be grouped into impact and non-impact
printers.

Printers are divided into two categories

 Impact printer
 Non impact printer
Impact Printer The impact printer uses a hammer or print head
to print the character or images onto the paper. The hammer or
print head strikes or presses an ink ribbon against the paper to
print characters and images.

Impact printers are further divided into two types.

A. Character Printers

B. Line printers

A) Character Printers: Character printer prints a single

character at a time or with a single stroke of the print head or
hammer. It does not print one line at a time. Dot Matrix printer
and Daisy Wheel printer are character printers. Today, these
printers are not in much use due to their low speed and because
only the text can be printed.

The character printers are of two types, which are as follows:

i) Dot Matrix Printer:

Dot Matrix Printer is an impact printer. The characters and

images printed by it are the patterns of dots. These patterns are
produced by striking the ink soaked ribbon against the paper
with a print head. The print head contains pins that produce a
pattern of dots on the paper to form the individual characters.
The print head of a 24 pin dot matrix contains more pins than a
9 pin dot matrix printer, so it produces more dots which results
in better printing of characters. To produce colour output, the
black ribbon can be changed with colour stripes. The speed of
Dot Matrix printers is around 200-500 characters per second.
ii) Daisy Wheel Printer:

Daisy Wheel Printer was invented by David S. Lee at Diablo Data

Systems.It consists of a wheel or disk that has spokes or
extensions and looks like a daisy, so it is named Daisy Wheel
printer. At the end of extensions, molded metal characters are
mounted. To print a character the printer rotates the wheel, and
when the desired character is on the print location the hammer
hits disk and the extension hits the ink ribbon against the paper
to create the impression. It cannot be used to print graphics and
is often noisy and slow, i.e., the speed is very low around 25-50
characters per second. Due to these drawbacks,these printers
have become obsolete.

B) Line Printers:

Line printer, which is also as a bar printer, prints one line at a

time. It is a high-speed impact printer as it can print 500 to 3000
lines per minute. Drum printer and chain printer are examples of
line printers.

i) Drum Printer:
Drum printer is a line printer that is made of a rotating drum to
print characters. The drum has circular bands of characters on
its surface. It has a separate hammer for each band of
characters. When you print, the drum rotates, and when the
desired character comes under the hammer, the hammer strikes
the ink ribbon against the paper to print characters. The drum
rotates at a very high speed and characters are printed by
activating the appropriate hammers. Although all the characters
are not printed at a time, they are printed at a very high speed.
Furthermore, it can print only a predefined style as it has a
specific set of characters. These printers are known to be very
noisy due to the use of hammering techniques.

ii) Chain Printer:

Chain printer is a line printer that uses a rotating chain to print

characters. The characters are embossed on the surface of the
chain. The chain rotates horizontally around a set of hammers,
for each print location one hammer is provided, i.e., the total
number of hammers is equal to the total number of print
positions. The chain rotates at a very high speed and when the
desired character comes at the print location, the corresponding
hammer strikes the page against the ribbon and character on the
chain.They can type 500 to 3000 lines per minute. They are also
noisy due to the hammering action

Non-Impact Printer:

Non-impact printers don't print characters or images by striking

a print head or hammer on the ink ribbon placed against the
paper. They print characters and images without direct physical
contact between the paper and the printing machinery. These
printers can print a complete page at a time, so they are also
known as page printers. The common types of non-impact
printers are Laser printer and Inkjet printer:

i) Laser Printer:

A laser printer is a non-impact printer that uses a laser beam to

print the characters. The laser beam hits the drum, which is a
photoreceptor and draws the image on the drum by altering
electrical charges on the drum. The drum then rolls in toner, and
the charged image on the drum picks the toner. The toner is then
printed on the paper using heat and pressure. Once the
document is printed, the drum loses the electric charge,and the
remaining toner is collected. The laser printers use powdered
toner for printing instead of liquid ink and produce quality print
objects with a resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi) or more.

ii) Inkjet Printer:

The inkjet printer is a non-impact printer that prints images and
characters by spraying fine,ionized drops of ink. The print head
has tiny nozzles to spray the ink. The printer head moves back
and forth and sprays ionized drops of ink on the paper, which is
fed through the printer. These drops pass through an electric
field that guides the ink onto the paper to print correct images
and characters.

An inkjet printer has cartridges that contain ink. Modern inkjet

printers are color printers that have four cartridges containing
different colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. It is capable
of printing high-quality images with different colors. It can
produce print objects with a resolution of at least 300 dots per
inch (dpi).

Projector

The projector is an output device that receives images from a

computer and allows users to project their output onto a large
area, such as a screen or a wall. The computer first sends the
signal to a video card which then transmits the signal to the
projector to project the images on the surface. Projectors magnify
texts, photos, and movies using light and lenses. As a result, it’s
an excellent output device for giving presentations or teaching big
groups of people.
Characteristics of Projector:

Projectors are lightweight and can be easily connected and hung

on the wall.

Projectors can be the most cost-effective option for large-screen

video in your home.

A small projector mounted on a back shelf or bookcase, or

mounted on the ceiling, takes up no area on the floor. It is barely
visible when it is not in use.

Speakers

Speakers are the output devices that are connected to computers

to allow sound to be output. For the working of speakers, sound
cards send signals to the speakers which are converted into
audio. Speakers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes
ranging from simple two-speaker output devices to surround-
sound multi-channel sets. These speakers use internal amplifiers
which vibrate at different frequencies to increase/decrease the
volume or amplitude of sound.

Characteristics of Speakers:

Speakers are available in a wide range of qualities and prices.

Small, plastic computer speakers with low sound quality are

often included with computer systems.

They come in a variety of sizes so can also be easily carried

around.

Headphones
Headphones are the output devices that help us listen to the
audio coming out of a computer. With the help of headphones, we
can listen to the audio privately and without disturbing anyone
around. These come in various sizes and brands and can be
connected with computer systems both wired or wirelessly.
Computers generate sound or audio as electric signals, which we
perceive through headphones. The headphones can convert
electrical energy into mechanical energy and we can then listen
to songs or audio on computer systems. Headphones are light
and portable, unlike heavy computer speakers.

Characteristics of Headphones:

Headphones are also known as Stereo phones and headsets.

The in-ear variants of headphones are known as earphones or

earbuds.

The word headset denotes a combination of headphones and a

microphone used for two-way communication, such as using a
telephone.

Plotter

A plotter is a type of output device that is used to produce high-

quality graphics, drawings, or large-format images. Plotters are
commonly used in engineering, architecture, design, and other
industries that require accurate and detailed graphical
representations.
 Computer - Software

Software is a set of programs, which is designed to perform a

well-defined function. A program is a sequence of instructions
written to solve a particular problem.

There are two types of software −

 System Software
 Application Software

System Software

The system software is a collection of programs designed to

operate, control, and extend the processing capabilities of the
computer itself. System software is generally prepared by the
computer manufacturers. These software products comprise of
programs written in low-level languages, which interact with the
hardware at a very basic level. System software serves as the
interface between the hardware and the end users.

Some examples of system software are Operating System,

Compilers, Interpreter, Assemblers, etc.

Here is a list of some of the most prominent features of a system

software −

 Close to the system

  Fast in speed
 Difficult to design
 Difficult to understand
 Less interactive
 Smaller in size
 Difficult to manipulate
 Generally written in low-level language

Application Software

Application software products are designed to satisfy a particular

need of a particular environment. All software applications
prepared in the computer lab can come under the category of
Application software.

Application software may consist of a single program, such as

Microsoft's notepad for writing and editing a simple text. It may
also consist of a collection of programs, often called a software
package, which work together to accomplish a task, such as a
spreadsheet package.

Examples of Application software are the following −

 Payroll Software
 Student Record Software
 Inventory Management Software
 Income Tax Software
 Railways Reservation Software
 Microsoft Office Suite Software
 Microsoft Word
 Microsoft Excel
 Microsoft PowerPoint

Features of application software are as follows −

 Close to the user

 Easy to design
  More interactive
 Slow in speed
 Generally written in high-level language
 Easy to understand
 Easy to manipulate and use
 Bigger in size and requires large storage space

Computer - Hardware

Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a

computer, i.e. the components that can be seen and touched.

Different Hardware Components of a Computer

The main hardware components of a computer are as under:

1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

2. Motherboard
3. Main memory (RAM)
4. BIOS (ROM)
5. Secondary storage device (hard disk, floppies, optical disks)
6. Input devices (keyboard, mouse, touchpad)
7. Output devices (monitor)
8. SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply)

When we look at the inside of any computer, all these hardware

can be physically seen and touched by our hands.

CPU

The central processing unit or the processor is the brain of the

Computer. It is the main think tank where all the calculations
and logical decisions are made. The modern processor consists of
millions of semiconductor transistors. The processor comes in
many variants depending on their processing speed. The example
of CPU is Intel Pentium, Intel Celeron, Dual-Core processor, etc.

Motherboard

The motherboard is the primary printed multilayered circuit

board. It holds all the associated components of a computer
system such as processor, memory, SMPS, input-output ports,
etc. Motherboards come with different form factors that define
their size and the components on the motherboard.

Main Memory (RAM)

The purpose of the main memory also called RAM in a computer

system is to store information. RAM is volatile and cannot retain
its memory when the system is powered off. RAM stores all the
files and programs that are currently running. Dynamic RAM is
used for the main memory. The different variants of main
memory available in the modern computer systems are DDR,
DDR2, DDR3 SDRAM, etc.
BIOS ( ROM)

BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System. It is a ROM which

stores firmware to start up the computer system. It performs a
POST (Power On Self Test )initially to test all the hardware and
then performs booting processing with the help of bootstrap code
stored in the ROM.

Secondary Storage device

The secondary storage device such as hard disk, optical disk,

floppy disk, etc is used to stored data in large quantities for long
term use. the secondary memory can store an enormous amount
of data and cheaper as compared to the main memory. however,
the secondary storage is much slower than the main memory.
Input devices

The primary function of an input device is to receive the raw data

from the user for processing. The different input devices used in
the computer system are keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner,
etc.

Output devices

The job of the output device is to display meaningful results after

processing is done. The different output devices used in the
computer are monitor printer, multimedia projector, speakers,
etc.
SMPS

SMPS stands for Switched Mode Power Supply. It provides a

regulated power supply to the sensitive parts of the computer.
The different voltages are supplied to the computer motherboard
by the SMPS. The main DC regulated voltages generated by SMPS
are: 5 volt DC, 12 volt DC, 3 volt DC, power good signal, etc.

Relationship between Hardware and Software

 Hardware and software are mutually dependent on each

other. Both of them must work together to make a computer
produce a useful output.
 Software cannot be utilized without supporting hardware.
 Hardware without a set of programs to operate upon cannot
be utilized and is useless.
 To get a particular job done on the computer, relevant
software should be loaded into the hardware.
 Hardware is a one-time expense.
 Software development is very expensive and is a continuing
expense.
 Different software applications can be loaded on a hardware
to run different jobs.
 Software acts as an interface between the user and the
hardware.
 If the hardware is the 'heart' of a computer system, then the
software is its 'soul'. Both are complementary to each other.
 Ports of a computer system

A computer is a device that transforms data into meaningful

information. It processes the input according to the set of
instructions provided to it by the user and gives the desired
output. As we know that we can connect multiple external
devices with the computer system. Now, these devices are
connected with the computer using Ports. The ports are the
physical docking points present in the computer through which
the external devices are connected using cables. Or in other
words, a port is an interface between the motherboard and an
external device of the computer.

Features of Computer Ports

 Multiple external devices can be attached to the PC with using og

ports and cables.
 These slots are presented on the motherboard where user can
attach directly external device or through cables.
 External devices such as mouse, keyboard, monitor, microphone,
speakers, etc, they can be connected via these ports.

Types of Computer Ports:

There are different types of ports available:

 PS/02
 Serial Port
 Parallel Port
 Ethernet
 Game Port
 Firewire Port
 Power Connector
 VGA Port
 USB Port
 RJ-45
 RJ11
 e-SATA
 5 mm Audio Jack
 DVI Port
 HDMI Port
 RCA
 Component Video
 Thunderbolt 3
 microSD Card Reader
 SD Card Reader
 Display Port
 Sockets

1. PS-2 Port

A PS/2 port is a mini DIN connector that connects the mouse or

keyboard to the computer system. Besides accepts 6-pin plug. IBM
introduced it in 1987. Moreover, its full form is Personal
System/2. Nowadays, computers use the USB port for the
keyboard and mouse.

Characteristics of a PS/2 port

Characteristics of a PS/2 port are as follows:

 This port was used earlier for connecting the mouse and
keyboard.
 We can also call it mouse port.
 Some areas still use this port for security reasons.
 Usually, this port uses a color scheme that is, purple for the
keyboard and teal green for the mouse.

2. Serial port(COM Port):

A serial port on a computer is an asynchronous port that
connects a serial device to the computer and allows the computer
to transfer or receive data one bit at a time. It is a type of
connection on PCs, which is one of the oldest types of interfaces.
It is commonly used to connect peripherals such as game
controllers and mice to a computer, and it was once used to
connect printers and external modems. For instance, a modem
might connect to communication port 1 and a mouse to
communication port 2. Modern serial ports are used in industrial
machinery systems and scientific instruments and are usually
found on IBM-compatible computers as COM (communications)
ports. The below picture is an example of a DB9 serial connector
on a cable.
Sometimes it is also known as RS-232 port or COM port, and its
data transfer rate is slower as compared to a parallel port. There
are two kinds of serial ports: DB25 and DB9, where DB25 is a
25-pin connection, and DB9 is a 9-pin connection. A serial port
is a male port that can only send one bit of data at a time,
whereas a parallel port is a female port that can send several bits
at the same time.

Serial ports have been replaced in the newer computer by much

faster and more compatible USB ports. System resource
configurations are identified by COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4,
and more;

Higher speed communication, such as external data storage

units, was required for serial communication. The faster
interfaces were introduced by the FireWire and the Universal
Serial Bus (USB). This new technology, known as the daisy chain
that could have the ability to transfer data at high rates on the
same bus. In modern times, the use of a serial port is even less
common. It's rarely utilised, however it's used in flat-screen
monitors, LCD displays, GPS receivers, LED displays, and bar-
code scanners as a communication device.

Uses of serial port

A list is given below that contains numerous hardware

components, you can purchase them and use with serial port.

o Mouse: A computer mouse, as well as specialty mice, is a

portable hardware input device that is one of the most often
used devices for serial ports on computers without PS/2 or
USB connections. The main function of a mouse is to open
 or execute a program, select an item, Drag-and-drop files,
folders, or other objects, hover, scroll, and perform other
functions.
o Modem: A modem, sometimes known as a broadband
modem, is a serial port device that links a computer or
router to a broadband network. Its use is very easy;
therefore, its use is more common. It is, however, most often
used with older machines. Cable modems and DSL modems
are two examples of these types of modems.
o Printer: The printer is an external hardware output device
that is not a commonly used device for serial ports today,
which is used to generate hard copies or soft copies,
however, with older printers and plotters. Its use was more
common.
o Network: One of the original applications of the serial port
was to create a network, which is a collection of devices
connected to each other that allows data to be shared. The
internet is an example of a network that links millions of
individuals and allows them to share information. Examples
of network devices are Bridges, Firewalls, Repeaters,
Webcams, Switches, hubs, modems, and routers

3. Parallel Port:

A parallel port is another type of computer port to connect a

peripheral device to the computer system. As its name implies,
a parallel port can transmit multiple bits of data all together at
the same time. Therefore, in the case of parallel ports, the rate
of data transmission is relatively high as compared to series
ports because these transmit data without any hold-up.

Parallel ports are mainly used to connect those computer

peripheral devices that require high bandwidth. The most
common examples of such devices are printers, monitors,
projectors, etc.

Parallel ports provide an interface to connect multiple lines to

prepare a parallel communication to send large data at a time.
 Parallel ports are used in connecting printers, hard-drives,
CD-drives, etc. All line’s speed should be the same to avoid
error and cross-talk issues. To avoid such issues, the wires are
kept small in length. A parallel port uses a D-25 connector, a
25 pin D-Shaped connector that connects to the transmission
wires.

Where is the parallel port on a computer?

The parallel port is found on the back of the computer and is part
of the motherboard. Below is an example of the DB25 interface
found on the back of the computer.

Identifying a parallel port

In the above picture, you can see the DB25 parallel port
connection is easy to identify because it's the biggest connection
on the back of the computer. The connection is in the shape of
the letter D, is a female connector, and has 25 holes.

Parallel port overview

The DB25 connector had an 8-bit data bus and a maximum

cable length of 15-feet. Although there are 50 foot cables, it is not
recommended that these cables be used as it can create poor
connection and data signals. Below is additional information
about each of the pins on this connector.

Pin1 - Data acknowledgement when the signal is low.

Pin 2-9 - Data transfer pins.
Pin 10 - Acknowledge that the data has finished processing and
when the signal is high indicates ready for more.
Pin 11 - When the signal goes high indicate that the printer has
accepted the data and its being processed. Once this signal goes
low and Pin 10 goes high, more data is ready to be accepted.
Pin 12 - Printer paper jam when signal is high or no signal if
printer jam.
Pin 13 - When high signal printer is indicating that it is on-line
and ready to print.
Pin 14 - When low signal PC has indicated that the printer inset
a line feed after each line.
Pin 15 - Printer sends data to the computer telling it that an
error has occurred.
Pin 16 - When low signal PC has requested that the printer
initiate an internal reset.
Pin 17 - When low signal the PC has selected the printer and
should in return prepare for data.
Pin 18-25 - Ground.

What is the parallel port used for?

Today, the parallel port has widely been replaced by the USB
port. However, below is a listing of various hardware components
that were used with the parallel port.

Printer - The most common use for the parallel port.

Scanner - Another commonly used parallel device is a parallel

port scanner. Parallel port scanners are a popular alternative to
SCSI scanners because of how easy they are to install.

Difference between Serial Ports and Parallel Ports

The following table highlights the important differences between

Serial Ports and Parallel Ports −

Parameter Serial Ports Parallel Ports

Definition A series port is A parallel port is
one that transmits one that transmits
one data at a time multiple data bits
in a single stream at a time.
of 0s and 1s.
Purpose Serial Port is used Parallel Port is
for serial data used for parallel
transmission. data transmission.
Transmission Transmission Transmission
Speed speed of a serial speed of a parallel
port is slow as port is quiet high
compared to a as compared to a
parallel port. serial port.
No. of Data A serial port can A parallel port can
Bits transmit one bit at transmit a set of
a time through a data bits (like 8-
single wire. bits, 16-bits) at
the same time
through separate
wires.
Bandwidth Serial ports are Parallel ports are
used to connect used to connect
those peripheral those devices that
devices that require relatively
require low high bandwidth.
bandwidth.
Connector A serial port uses A parallel port
DB-9 connector, a uses D-25
9 pin D-Shaped connector, a 25
Connector which pin D-Shaped
connects to the connector which
transmission line. connects to the
transmission
wires.
Redundancy Bottom-Up model Top-down model
is better suited as has high ratio of
it ensures redundancy as the
minimum data size of project
redundancy and increases.
focus is on
reusability.
No. of Wires Wire connections No. of wires that
to serial port are are connected to
quiet less as parallel port are
compared to quiet high as
parallel port. compared to serial
port.
 Capability A serial port is A parallel port is
able to transmit a able to transmit
single stream of multiple data
data at a time. streams at a time.
Data Sending A serial port sends A parallel port
Mechanism data bit by bit sends data by
after sending a bit sending multiple
at a time. bits in parallel
fashion.
Port Type A serial port uses A parallel port
Male ports. uses Female ports.
Applications Modems, security Printers, Hard
cameras, device Drives, CD drives
controllers use use parallel ports.
serial ports.

4. Ethernet:

Ethernet ports are for transmitting wired internet connections.

These ports allow connections from ethernet cables, which also
connect to routers or modems, allowing internet capabilities.
Ethernet cables may enable faster internet connections than
wireless connections, but many Wi-Fi connections can achieve
similar speeds to wired connections.

 After, connecting to network, it provides the high speed internet.

 The rate of data transmission is 10 megabits to 1000 megabits
per seconds, but it is depended on the network bandwidth.
In the picture below you'll see the 2 ports for ethernet
connections. These can come labelled or unlabeled. it depends on
the device and brand of product you are using. Labeling can vary
from network port, ethernet port, LAN port or WAN port.

What Does An Ethernet Port Do?

Ethernet ports can also be referred to as sockets or jacks. The

main function of an ethernet port is to create an ethernet
connection. Ethernet connections can be create between
computers, servers, switches, hubs, routers, modems, gaming
consoles, printers and much more. When multiple devices are
connected it is called a LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide
Area Network) or MAN (Metropolitan Area Networks). These types
of networks range in different sizes. For the majority of networks
in your home it will be a LAN (Local Area Network). One of the
vital parts to these network is an ethernet port.
The ethernet port connects one to many different devices. The
most common type of connection for an ethernet port is from
your computer to your router. By connecting all these devices
together we call is hard wiring. It is used to establish an internet
connection to your device of choice.

How Does An Ethernet Port Function?

Ethernet ports are connected to devices on the inside of your

product. They are connected to NIC (Network Interface Controller)
which looks like a motherboard. On one end is the ethernet port
and the rest consists of electrical circuits used to communicate
with a wired connection. A NIC is commonly used in computers
and is something that can be switched with another type of NIC.
This depends on the type and brand of computer.

Other ways in which an ethernet port function is by being apart

of an ethernet controller. These are typically in switches, routers
and modems. Each devices controller will do different functions
of the network transport.

Connecting An Ethernet Port

Ethernet ports are connected in a couple ways. The most
common way to connect an ethernet port is using a patch cable.
A patch cable is a copper twisted pair assembled with an RJ45
modular plug on either end. You plug one side of the cable in the
port until it clips in and you do the same on the other device.
This then creates a connection between both devices.

This can be done from your computer to router, router to modem,

router to switch and anything that has an ethernet port on it.

Patch cables can come pre-assembled or you can create custom

length cable runs using a Bulk Network Cables. The type of cable
will depend on your environment and your speed requirements.

Performance from Port to Port

The port in your device will have different capabilities. Some of

the most popular devices today have gigabit ethernet ports. But
that does not cover all the devices in the market today. There are
devices having port functions of 10mbps, 100mbps, 1000mbps
(gigabit), 10Gb and even up to 40Gb ethernet ports. All these are
different ethernet standards and speeds. Your device will often
auto negotiate to your speed. Choosing which device is right for
your network will consist of deciding what your speed
requirements are. If you are running 500Mbps then a gigabit
switch or router will be able to give you more than enough power.

5. Game Port:

A game port is a device port which was available in most personal

computer-compatible systems. This input/output connector
traditionally allowed users to connect game pads, joysticks or
other compatible devices to provide additional functionality to the
computer system. With the advent of universal serial bus,
production of game ports decreased and has since been
discontinued in most personal computers and laptops. A game
port is also known as an analog-to-digital port, game control
adapter or joystick port. These connections were used primarily
in the 1980s and 1990s for connection of a game controller to a
computer, though they were largely replaced by other connectors,
such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

There are two common meanings of the term “game port” that
can be used, with the context of usage often determining which is
meant. In Personal Computer (PC) gaming, this term can refer to
an I/O connection that was used in the late 20th Century.
Introduced in the 1980s, a game port was a 15-pin connection
that was often part of a dedicated peripheral card on a computer.
Later versions kept the port but placed it on certain models of
sound cards, rather than requiring a dedicated motherboard slot.

A number of devices could be connected to a game port,

including gamepads and joysticks. Gamepads or controllers are
hand-held devices that can be used to directly control a game,
much like those provided with different gaming consoles.
Joysticks are similar peripherals that can use a game port, which
provided a player with a large stick used to manipulate or move a
game character or object on-screen.
6. Fireware Port: