anatomy of a computer system

anatomy of a computer system.

Any computer system essentially consists of three important parts, namely, input device, central processing unit  (CPU) and the output device. The CPU itself consists of the main memory, the arithmetic logic unit, and the control unit. Other than the above parts, computers also include secondary storage devices, which are used for storing data and instructions for long time. All computer systems perform the following five basic operations for converting raw data into relevant information: 

1. Inputing: The process of entering data and instructions into the computer system. With the help of input devices we can enter data into a computer system. Keyboard, scanner, card reader are the eg. of input devices. 

2. Storing: The process of saving data and instructions so that they are available for use as and when required. The data can be stored permanently in secondary storage devices and while processing is going on it is being stored in primary storage devices. 

3. Processing: Performing arithmetic or logical operations on data, to convert them into useful information. In the Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU), comparisons or calculations of the data and information are done and the results are sent back to the memory unit. 

4. Since, all data and instructions are represented in numeric form (bits), ALU is designed to perform the four basic arithmetic operations; add, subtract, multiply, divide and logic/comparison operations such as equal to, less than, greater than. 

5. Outputing: This is the process of providing the results to the user in the form of visual display and/or printed reports. Eg. of out devices are monitor, printer, plotter. 6. Controlling: Refers to directing the sequence and manner in which all the above operations are performed. The Control Unit (CU) control the operations thereby ensures that the correct operation is done on the correct data as per the given instruction.