A Computer is an electronic device that takes input as data and after

processing in CPU it gives output in form of information. The information

can be stored in memory for further processing.

Data:
 Data are raw material
 Data are un-organized in nature
 Data are Meaning less
 Data take part in process
 Data can’t use for decision making

Information:
 Information is real material
 Information is organized in nature
 Information is Meaningful
 Information is product of process
 Information used for decision making

Process:
Process is smallest individual unit of work that converts data into
information. Process completes in CPU part of computer.
CPU is Central Processing Unit of Computer that control the all
over functions of computer. CPU controls, guides, and monitor
to the every activity of computer. The CPU has some other
components.
1. CU (Control Unit)
2. ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
3. Memory

The Control Unit of CPU controls & monitor all tasks

performed in CPU. Like
It Controls the input
Flow of program execution
Maintain synchronization among AU, LU and Memory
units of computer.
It also controls the input and output.
Arithmetic Logic Unit is responsible for handling of
Mathematical and relational & Logical operations in CPU.
ALU has two parts
A.U. (Arithmetic Unit): AU performs all the mathematical
calculations.
Like addition (+), subtraction (-), Division (/),
Multiplication (*) etc.
L.U. (Logical Unit): The LU unit performs all the relational
and logical tasks. The result of relational and logical tasks
always be either True or False.
Relational Operations: <, >, <=, >=, !=
Logical Operations: AND, OR, NOT
Working of ALU: The CU detects the input and forward to
ALU for further processing. If nature of input is arithmetic
then it transfer to AU unit and if it is logical type then
transfer to LU unit. After calculations, the result again send
to CU.

Here Memory mean RAM (Random Access Memory) that is

internal memory of Computer and it provides the space for
performing all the activities in CPU. When the process over
then the memory free up and that space is available for
other process in CPU.
The Memory in Computer mean RAM and it is also known as
Internal / Main / Primary Memory. There are various units for
measurement of memory. The relationship among various units
is given below

The Memory in Computer is categorized in two parts

Internal / Main / Primary Memory
External / Auxiliary / Secondary Memory

Internal / Main / Primary Memory

The Main Memory (RAM) of Computer is responsible for
proving the space for all type of program functioning. The
program loads in the main memory and then execute it. After
completion of execution of program, the main memory free
up and this space can utilized by other waiting programs. It is
 volatile memory. That mean it stores programs as temporary
and it became empty when power off or shut down computer.
RAM has two categories:
1. Static RAM
2. Dynamic RAM
Example of main memory are:
 RAM (Random Access Memory)
 ROM (Read Only Memory)
 Registers
 Cache Memory
ROM (Read Only Memory):

The read only memory used for Reading purpose only. Once the
data stored in ROM, can’t write more and delete the data. It is
slower than RAM. There are more variants of ROM are available
now a day
PROM (Programmable ROM)- Write more than one time (Can’t
delete the data from PROM)
EPROM (Erasable PROM) –Write and Delete many times
EEPROM (Electronically EPROM)
Examples of ROM- CPU Chips, CD ROM
Cache Memory:
It is special type of high speed small type of memory that
provides small chunk of storage space (in MB) near to processor
for fast processing. It stores the data that frequently required by
the processor for processing and hence it increase the
processing speed of Computer.
The cache memory either resides on mother board (near to
processor) or on the processor. There are two types of cache
memory in computer
 L1 Cache (Resides with CPU, size in KB)
 L2 Cache (Resides on motherboard, size in MB)
 L3 Cache (Resides on motherboard, size bigger than L2)

Registers:
Registers are the units those provides the small space for
storing the data values. These data values are useful in
further processing of various tasks by CPU.
 External / Auxiliary / Secondary Memory
The Computer required a large space to store big data in
memory permanently. The data stored in Secondary /
external memory store permanently for long time and it
persists in memory even after shut down of computer.
There are following types of Secondary Memory
Hard Disk, CD, DVD, BRD, External Hard Disk, Portable Flash
Memory (Pen Drive), Memory Card (Solid State Drive),
Floppy disk

Hard Disk stores bulk of information, files permanently. It also

stores the essential files of operating system. Hard disk is
arrangement of many circular platters. Each platter has read and
write head to read and write the information. Hard disk not
required any separate driver to read / write information from it.
BRD is one of Optical disk that used for stores high definition
video for better quality. The read and write process performed
with the help of Blue Violet Laser. Blue ray has short wavelength
than red ray (red ray used for read / write in CD, DVD). It is easy
and fast to read and write data by blue ray on BRD compare to
general CD, DVD. It also store the information more tightly and
hence same in size of CD and BRD store 700MB (in Cd) and 128
GB (in BRD) data respectively.
Note: CD, DVD requires separate drive to read/ write data with
red ray. BRD requires driver to read / write data with blue ray.
A function in computer is set of statements that designed to
carry out specific output.
A program is set of functions that designed to carry out various
specific outputs.
A software is set of programs that manage, control and govern
the various operations of computer system. Software also
manage the hardware and peripherals devices and make them
run.
There are three broad categories of software
System Software
Application Software
Utility Software
The system software is responsible for controlling the all other
software and hardware. It also controls the various internal
operations performed in computer. All the Application software
also controlled by the system software.
The example of System software are
Operating System
Language Processor / Translator
i. Operating System (OS)
The primary objective of operating system is to provide
interface or environment where various applications can run and
it also control the hardware. The major functions of operating
system are:-
Input- Output Management
Process Management
File Management
Hardware Management
Memory Management
The various examples of an operating system are
Windows, Unix, Linux, Macintosh, Mac, Android etc.
Types of operating system based on Interface
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
It Supports Audio, Video, Text, Pictures, Graphics etc.
CUI (Character User Interface)
It only Supports Text and not supports graphics.
Types of operating system based on User
Single User OS
Multiuser OS
Time Sharing OS
Real Time OS
Multiprocessing OS
Distributed OS

Language Processor / Translator

Language translator is used to convert one type of language into
machine understandable language. Basically computer is based
on machine (Binary) language so the language translator always
convert any other language into machine language. There are
two types of computer languages

Some of HLL: C, C++, Java, C#

According to language, there are three types of language
translators, which converts the source code of one language into
machine code so that the computer can understand the machine
code. This machine code is also known as Object Code.
A. Assembler
This language translator converts the assembly language
into machine language.

B. Interpreter
The Interpreter translator converts the HLL language into
machine language.

C. Compiler
The Compiler translator also converts the HLL language
into machine language.

Difference between Compiler and Interpreter

Compiler Interpreter
Coverts all lines of program in one go. Coverts line by line of program.

Speed of conversion is faster. Speed of conversion is slower.

Easy to error detection and correction Hard to error detection and correction
Utility softwares are some special type of softwares which
closely related to system software. These utility softwares are
used to maintain / manage the system softwares, memory and
ensures the smooth working of computer.
Examples of Utility Softwares:
i. Disk Clean up
ii. Disk Defragmentation
iii. Backup and Restore
iv. Check Disk
v. Antivirus
vi. Window Firewall

Applications are used for specific application and perform

specific type of work. Some of the applications softwares
are …
 MS word- Word Processing Application S/w
 MS Excel- Spread sheet Making Application S/w
 MS Access- Database Management Application S/w
 Photoshop- Image alteration Application S/w
Types of Application Softwares
(i) General Purpose Software
(ii) Customised Software
General Purpose Software:
This category of application software used for some general
purpose work. The scope of these softwares is wide and
available in every computer for general purpose. These
softwares are designed to fulfill the demands of all user. For
example MS Office.
Some common application softwares are
 Word Processing software- MS Word, Open Office, Writer
 Spreadsheet software- MS Excel, openoffice calc
 Database Magt. System- MS Access, MySQL
 Graphics, multimedia Software- Photoshop, Corel Draw,
PowerPoint
 Web browsers- Mozilla, Firefox, Opera, chrome, Safari

Customised Software:
These type of application softwares are designed to fulfill the
specific type of requirement of user. Customised softwares
designed according to the need of work or purpose. These
softwares cannot use as general purpose softwares.
Some of areas where Customised softwares are used
 In Medical or Hospitals
 In Space and Research
 Ticket booking software
 Petrol Pump Fuel Measurement
 Freeware:
The freeware has following characteristics.
 It is available free of cost
 It allow copying of software
 Distribution of software is allowed
 Source code is not available
 But Modification is not allowed

Free Software:
The free software has following characteristics.
 It is available free of cost
 It allow copying of software
 Distribution of software is allowed
 Source code is available
 Modification is allowed
 Distribution after modification is allowed but with no cost.

OSS and FLOSS

OSS mean Open Source software.
 It is available free of cost or nominal fees
 It allow copying of software
 Distribution of software is allowed
 Source code is available
 Modification is allowed
 Distribution after modification is allowed
FLOSS refers to Free Libre (Livre) Open Source Software
 It is open source and
 It is free software also
Example: MySQL, Python, OpenOffice, Linux etc.

Proprietary Software
 It is neither open nor freely available
 It is available with license with owner of software
 No distribution or copy allowed
 No modification is allowed
 The copy, distribution, modification is only allowed with
the permission of owner.
Example: MS Window, Quick heal Antivirus, MS Office etc.

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