Computers and Components

A computer is a device that processes data and follows instructions called programs. It includes hardware like the CPU, memory, storage, and input/output devices.

Programs and Programming Languages

  • Program: A program is a set of commands that tells the computer what to do.
  • Programming Language: A programming language helps developers give instructions to the computer in a standard way.

Machine Language

  • Computers are made of transistors, which can either stop or allow electricity to pass through.
  • 0 (Low) means no electricity passes, and 1 (High) means electricity passes.
  • Machine language is made up of 0s and 1s, which is the only language a computer can understand.
  • Everything you see on a screen comes from these 0s and 1s.
  • For example, “HELLO” in binary looks like:
    • H → 01001000
    • E → 01000101
    • L → 01001100
    • L → 01001100
    • O → 01001111