Block Diagram of Computer

The diagram that illustrates the primary components of the computer system is known as
the block diagram of the computer. The basic definition of the computer system is that it takes
some data then it processes it and then it produces the final outcome and this is what the block
diagram shows.

Figure: Block Diagram of Computer

The main components of the computer system are the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The
Central Processing Unit consists of two more parts the Arithmetic and Logical Unit(ALU), and
the Control Unit(CU). For processing the data to give output, the computer needs some space to
keep the data there and from here the Storage Unit takes the lead. The components are briefly
described below.
The Input Unit

The input unit is the platform from where the raw data is passed into the computer system. The
input can be in any form. For example, the mouse-clicked input, button-input, keyboard-input,
etc. All the input data is passed from the input unit to the computer’s storage unit.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

CPU or Central Processing Unit is known as the brain of the computer system. It is an electronic
hardware device that processes all (e.g., arithmetic and logical operations) of the computer. In
other words, all the major calculations the operations, operations or comparisons are performed
inside the CPU. It is also responsible for handling the operations of several other units.

In the above diagram, the Control Unit (CU) and Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU) are jointly
called the Central Processing Unit (CPU).
Let's discuss all the parts displayed in the above diagram one by one:

Control Unit

As the name suggests, the control unit of a CPU controls all the activities and operations of the
computer. It is also responsible for controlling input/output, memory, and other devices
connected to the CPU. The control unit acts like the supervisor which determines the sequence in
which computer programs and instructions are executed. It retrieves instructions from memory,
decodes the instructions, interprets the instructions and understands the sequence of tasks to be
performed accordingly. It further transmits the instructions to the other parts of the computer
system to execute them. In short, the control unit determines the sequence of operations to
execute the given instructions.

Arithmetic & Logic Unit

The data inputted through input devices is stored in the primary storage unit. The Arithmetic
Logic Unit (ALU) performs arithmetic and logical operations.

On the other side, the logical unit controls the logical operations such as AND, OR, Equal,
greater than, and less than, etc. Apart from it, the logic unit also responsible for performing
several other operations such as comparing, selecting, matching, and merging data. The
information or data is transmitted to ALU from the storage unit only when it is required. After
completing the operations, the result is either returned to the storage unit for further processing
or getting stored.

Memory Unit

Memory Unit is an essential part of the computer system which is used to store data and
instructions before and after processing. The memory unit transmits the information to other
units of the computer system when required.

There are two types of memory units:

Primary Memory

The primary memory cannot store a vast amount of data. The data stored in the primary memory
is temporary. The data will be lost if they are disconnected from the power supply. The primary
memory usually stores the input data and immediate calculation results. The primary memory is
also known as the Main Memory or temporary memory. Random Access Memory (RAM) is an
example of primary memory.
Secondary Memory

The use of primary memory is not possible to store data permanently for future access.
Therefore, there are some other options to store the data permanently for future use, which is
known as secondary memory or auxiliary storage or permanent storage. The data stored in the
secondary memory is safe even when there is a power failure or no power supply. Hard Disk is
usually considered a secondary memory.

The Central Processing Unit performs the following major functions:

• The CPU controls all components, software and data processing of the computer system.
• The CPU takes data from input devices, executes the data, and sends output to the output
devices.
• The CPU processes all the operations, including all the arithmetical and logical operations.

Output Unit

The output unit consists of devices that are used to display the results or output of processing.
The output data is first stored in the memory and then displayed in human-readable form through
output devices. Some of the widely used output devices are Monitor, Printer, and Projector.
The Output Unit performs the following major functions:

• The output unit accepts the data or information in binary form from the main memory of the
computer system.
• The output unit converts the binary data into a human-readable form for better understanding.