1.

Basic Structure of Computer

All types of computers follow a same basic logical structure and perform the following five
basic operations for converting raw input data into information useful to their users.

Following diagram shows the basic structure of Computer:

Input Unit

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

Examples : Keyboard, Mouse and Scanner

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. CPU performs all types of data processing
operations. It stores data, intermediate results and instructions (program). It controls the
operation of all parts of computer.

CPU itself has following three components

 ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)

 Memory Unit
 Control Unit

Arithmetic logic unit (ALU):-

ALU performs all arithmetic and logic operations based on the instructions given like
addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, etc. the operands are brought into the ALU
from memory and stored in high speed storage elements called register. Then according to the
instructions the operation is performed in the required sequence.

The control and the ALU are many times faster than other devices connected to a computer
system. This enables a single processor to control a number of external devices such as
keyboards, displays, magnetic and optical disks, sensors and other mechanical controllers.
Memory Unit :

It is a device that functions as a storage medium in a computer system.Based

on the location, the memory is divided into two parts, namely internal and
external memory.

 This internal memory is the main memory in a computer system, such

as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory).

 External memory is secondary memory like hard disk, USB drive, etc.

Control unit:-

The control unit controls and regulates the course of the program. The register is used to
serve as a temporary storage area for data that is being processed to continue to the next
processing. It effectively is the nerve center that sends signals to other units and senses their
states. The actual timing signals that govern the transfer of data between input unit,
processor, memory and output unit are generated by the control unit.

Output Unit

Output unit consists of devices with the help of which we get the information from computer.
This unit is a link between computer and users. Output devices translate the computer’s
output into the form understandable by users.

Examples: Printer, speakers, monitor etc.

2. Input Device:

Input devices are the devices that are used to send signals to the computer for performing
tasks.

Some of the classifications of Input devices are:

 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Scanner

Keyboard :

A computer keyboard is an input device used to enter characters and functions into the
computer system by pressing buttons, or keys.

 It is the primary device used to enter text.

  A keyboard typically contains keys for individual letters, numbers and special
characters, as well as keys for specific functions.
 Individual letters : Letters Keys (A-Z)
 Numbers Keys: It is used to enter numeric data from (0-9)
 Control Keys: These keys control the pointer and the screen. Keys such as Home,
End, Insert, Alternate(Alt), Delete, Control(Ctrl), Escape(Esc) are all control keys
 Special Keys: Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, Tab and Print Screen are the special keys on
the keyboard.
 Function Keys: The 12 keys from F1 to F12 are the function keys.

Mouse :

A mouse is a small hardware input device used by hand. It controls the movement
of the cursor on the computer screen and allows users to move and select folders, text, files,
and icons on a computer. It is an object, which needs to put on a hard-flat surface to use.

A mouse is capable of performing various functions on a computer, which are as

follows:

 To Move the mouse pointer

 To Select the option
 To Open or execute a program
 To Drag-and-drop
 To Scroll up and down
 To Playing games

Scanner :

A scanner is a device that allows you to digitize physical documents, images, or even
objects, and convert them into a digital format that can be viewed, edited, and stored on a
computer. It's like a digital photocopier that captures the content of a document or image and
saves it as a file.

3.Output Devices:

Output Devices are the devices that show us the result after giving the input to a
computer system. Output can be of many different forms like image, graphic audio, video,
etc.
Monitor :
A monitor is an electronic output device that is also known as a video display
terminal (VDT) or a video display unit (VDU). It is used to display images, text, video, and
graphics information generated by a connected computer via a computer's video card.
Types of monitor are
 Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitor
 Flat Panel Monitors
  Touch Screen Monitors

 LED and LCD Monitors

Printers :
A printer is a device that accepts text and graphics output from a computer, and it transfers
this information to paper or sheets. Printers can print any information that has been passed
to it, whether it be Text, Numbers or Images.
Types of Printer are
 Character Printers
 Line Printers
 Non-Impact Printers
 Laser Printers
 Inkjet Printers

4. Operating System :

An Operating System (OS) is a software program that manages the

hardware and software resources of a computer. The OS performs basic
tasks, such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritising system
requests, controlling input and output devices, facilitating network
communication, and managing files.

The OS acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware,
allowing the user to execute programs and access data. The OS
also provides services to other software programs, such as device drivers,
libraries, and system utilities.

5.Features of an Operating System

An Operating System can have different features depending on its design

goals and target audience. Some of the common features are:

Multitasking
Multitasking is the ability of an OS to run multiple programs concurrently
on a single processor or multiple processors. Multitasking allows users to
perform multiple tasks at the same time without waiting for one program
to finish before starting another.
Multiprocessing
Multiprocessing is the ability of an OS to utilise multiple processors or
cores in a single system. Multiprocessing enables parallel processing of
tasks and improves the performance and efficiency of the system.

Multithreading
Multithreading is the ability of an OS to execute multiple threads within a
single process. A thread is a sequence of instructions that can be
executed independently by a processor or core.

Memory management
Memory management is the process of allocating and deallocating
memory to processes and programs. Memory management ensures that
each process has enough memory to run, and that no memory is wasted
or corrupted. Memory management also involves swapping or paging
techniques to move data between main memory and secondary storage
when needed.

Security
Security is the feature of an OS that protects the system from
unauthorised access, modification, or damage. Security involves
authentication, authorisation, encryption, auditing, and firewall
mechanisms to prevent attacks from external or internal sources.

User Interface
User Interface is the feature of an OS that allows users to interact with the
system using graphical or textual elements. The User Interface (UI)
includes windows, menus, icons, buttons, cursors, etc., for graphical mode
and commands, prompts, messages, etc., for command-line mode.

6. DOS,Windows and UNIX operating system :

DOS operating system :

DOS stands for Disk Operating System, which is an operating system that was popular till
1995 in IBM PCs.

 It is a single-tasking OS i.e., it can perform one task at a time.

 It is based on a command-line interface where one has to provide instructions to the
computer in the command form.
  It runs from hard disks, floppy disks, or any other storage devices and thus provides
an environment for the execution of programs.
Features of DOS
 16-bit operating system
 Command line interface
 Doesn’t support GUI
 Pointer devices are not supported

Windows Operating system :

Microsoft window is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) based operating system that
provides graphical user-friendly alternatives for most of the command-line based
functions .Windows is a product of Microsoft. It is an operating system with various
versions, Windows 10 being the latest version.

 It is a Graphics-Based user interface .

 Users give commands through clicking or choosing icons and images with the help
of a mouse, keyboard, or touchscreen to the computer.
 Windows was originally a DOS extender running on top of DOS.

Features of Windows
 Control panel
 File explorer
 Internet Browser
 Microsoft paints
 TaskBar
 Start Menu
 Task manager
 Disk Cleanup

Unix operating system :

UNIX is a powerful, multi-user, and multitasking operating system originally developed at

AT & T Bell Laboratories.

 It follows the concept of time sharing where CPU time is divided into multiple time
slices and each time slice is allotted to a single user.
 After completion of that time, the control is passed to the next user.
 Also, it can perform multiple tasks or programs simultaneously. We can work on
multiple programs at the same time.
Features of Unix
 Multi-tasking
  Multi-processing
 Multi-user
 High security
 Portable
 Open source

7.Introduction to Programming Languages:

A program is a set of instructions given to a computer to perform a specific operation. or

computer is a computational device that is used to process the data under the control of a
computer program. While executing the program, raw data is processed into the desired
output format. These computer programs are written in a programming language which are
high-level languages
A programming language is a formal language that specifies a set of instructions for a
computer to perform specific tasks.
 It’s used to write software programs and applications, and to control and manipulate
computer systems.
 There are many different programming languages, each with its own syntax,
structure, and set of commands. Some of the most commonly used programming
languages include Java, Python, C++, JavaScript, and C#.
Some of the key features of programming languages include:
1. Syntax: The specific rules and structure used to write code in a programming language.
2. Data Types: The type of values that can be stored in a program, such as numbers,
strings, and booleans.
3. Variables: Named memory locations that can store values.
4. Operators: Symbols used to perform operations on values, such as addition,
subtraction, and comparison.
5. Control Structures: Statements used to control the flow of a program, such as if-else
statements, loops, and function calls.
6. Libraries and Frameworks: Collections of pre-written code that can be used to perform
common tasks and speed up development.
7. Paradigms: The programming style or philosophy used in the language, such as
procedural, object-oriented, or functional.
Examples of popular programming languages include Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, and
Ruby.