Understanding the Basics of Your Computer

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Understanding the Basics of Your Computer If you are not trained in computer programming, it can be hard to understand exactly what computer programming is. There are a lot of people that struggle understanding what computer programming is and how they use it on a consistent basis. Computer programs can seem overwhelming when you do not understand the basics of computers. For how often we use computers, there are many people that do not understand the fundamentals of their computer and how the computer functions.

Interworking of a Computer Every computer has a processor chip inside of it and this chip has internal memory in it. Every piece of your computer is plugged into the bus and it is from the bus that your computers processor is able to recognize the different pieces of your computer. Every time that you start your computer, your operating system will start. The operating system will control the hardware throughout your computer to ensure that you are able to run programs and the operating system will control the way that your computer runs. As your computer boots up there are wide variety of processes that occur. After your computer is completely booted up you will then be able to log into your computer and once you have logged in you will then have access to your home directory. Your home directory is the part of your computer where your personal files are stored. When you are storing your files on your computer, you will be storing them on your directory and your computer will have the ability to recall them after you have booted up. Interestingly, your computer can only do one task at a time but computers are able to change tasks very rapidly. When you try to do more than one task at a time on your computer, your computer will not be able to simultaneously accomplish the tasks.


Language and Function The way that your computer knows how to accomplish your tasks is through the computer program language that is being used. There are a wide variety of programs out there and the main difference between the different programs is the way they store data. Some programs are able to store information more effectively while other programs take up a lot of memory trying to store all of their information. Using a program that does not store information effectively can significantly slow down your computer. Although computer programming may be confusing at first, it is an extremely beneficial skill to have in today’s work place. There are many people that are able to increase their visibility and value as an applicant because of their ability to program in a specific language. If you are set on going into a specific field, you may want to do some research to figure out the most commonly used language for that field. This way, you can be sure that you are learning a language that is applicable and effective. With the extensive nature of computers in today’s day and age it is important to be competent in understanding how computers work. This knowledge can help you in a variety of settings and ensure that you are able to keep up with computer work.

Photo Credit: Selva, Christopher Chan


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