computer

A computer is a machine or device that performs processes, calculations, and operations based on instructions provided by a software or hardware program. It is designed to execute applications and provides a variety of solutions by combining integrated hardware and software components.

A computer is made up of multiple parts and components that facilitate user functionality. A computer has two primary categories:

• Hardware: Physical structure that houses a computer's processor, memory, storage, communication ports, and peripheral devices

• Software: Includes operating system (OS) and software applications

Digital Computer Definition

accepts data	Input
processes data	Processing
produces output	Output
stores results	Storage

• Personal computer: A personal computer is a computer small and low cost. The term"personal computer" is used to describe desktop computers (desktops).

• Workstation: A terminal or desktop computer in a network. In this context, the workstation is just a generic term for a user's machine (client machine) in contrast to a "server" or "mainframe."

• Minicomputer: A minicomputer isn't very mini. At least, not in the way most of us think of mini. You know how big your personal computer is and its related family.

• Mainframe: It refers to the kind of large computer that runs an entire corporation.

• Supercomputer: It is the biggest, fastest, and most expensive computers on earth.

• Microcomputer: Your personal computer is a microcomputer

A computer works with software programs that are sent to its underlying hardware architecture for reading, interpretation, and execution. Computers are classified according to computing power, capacity, size, mobility, and other factors, as personal computers (PC), desktop computers, laptop computers, minicomputers, handheld computers and devices, mainframes or supercomputers.

The basic components of a modern digital computer are Input Device, Output Device, Central Processor Unit (CPU), mass storage device and memory. A Typical modern computer uses LSI Chips.  Four Functions of the computer are:

Input (Data):

Input is the raw information entered into a computer from the input devices. It is the collection of letters, numbers, images, etc. 

Process: 

The process is the operation of data as per given instructions. It is a totally internal process of the computer system.

Output:

The output is the processed data given by computer after data processing. The output is also called as Result. We can save these results in the storage devices for future use.

Computer Classification: By Size and Power

Computers differ based on their data processing abilities. They are classified according to purpose, data handling, and functionality.

According to functionality, computers are classified as: 

• Analog Computer: A computer that represents numbers by some continuously variable physical quantity, whose variations mimic the properties of some system being modeled.