CT_Topic1_Notes (1)

Computer Hardware

The physical components of a computer system that can be touched.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The main component of a computer that performs most of the processing inside a computer.

Integrated Circuit (IC)

A set of electronic components and circuits on a single semiconductor material, usually silicon.

Moore's Law

The observation that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years.

NOT-gate

A logic gate that outputs true or 1 only when its input is false or 0.

AND-gate

A logic gate that outputs true or 1 only if all its inputs are true or 1.

OR-gate

A logic gate that outputs true or 1 if at least one of its inputs is true or 1.

NAND-gate

A logic gate that outputs false or 0 only when all its inputs are true or 1.

fetch-decode-execute cycle

The basic operational process of a computer where an instruction is fetched from memory, decoded, and then executed.

Volatile Memory

Memory that requires power to maintain the stored information, such as RAM.

Non-volatile Memory

Memory that can retain the stored information even when not powered, such as a hard disk.

Assembly Language

A low-level programming language that is closely related to machine code, making it easier to read and write than binary.

Process Control Block (PCB)

A data structure used by the operating system to store all the information about a process.

Context Switching

The process of storing the state of a process so that it can be resumed later, allowing multiple processes to share a single processor.

Binary World

A conceptual framework in computing where all data is represented in two states: 0 and 1.

Von Neumann Architecture

A computer architecture where a single memory holds both instructions and data.

Microarchitecture

The design and organization of the components in a CPU, including its data paths, storage elements, and control logic.

Operating System (OS)

Software that manages hardware resources and provides services for computer programs.

Instructions Set Architecture (ISA)

The part of the processor that defines the instructions it can execute and the functions those instructions perform.