Essential Computer Terms: Hardware and Software Basics
Computer
An electronic machine built to process information and data with programs designed for it. It is a device capable of receiving data, processing it, and delivering results in a desired way. It consists of two inseparable elements: the electromechanical equipment (hardware) and the instructions in the form of programs (software) to perform different tasks using algorithms.
Bit (Binary Digit)
The minimum unit of digital information that can be treated by a computer. It is a 1 or a 0.
Byte
A unit of digital information that consists of a set of 8 bits.
Driver (Controlador)
A program that is generally part of the operating system and that controls a specific piece of hardware.
Hardware
All the physical (electronic) parts of a computer. They can be internal, located in a kind of case or box, or peripheral devices used to enter or extract data.
Storage Devices
Components in a computer that store data for some period of time. The storage components are also called memories. They can be internal, such as RAM memory, hard disk or CD or DVD-ROM units, and external, such as external hard drives or pendrives.
I/O (Input/Output) Devices
A set of devices that are used in a computer to communicate with the user, or with other information processing systems. Inputs are the data received by the computer, while the outputs are the data sent by it.
Motherboard or Mainboard
The integrated circuit that acts as the base of connection for the microprocessor, the slots to connect the system RAM, the ROM, and the special slots that allow the connection of additional expansion cards. Every hardware device in a computer is connected directly or indirectly to the motherboard.
CPU (Central Processing Unit) or (Micro)processor
The component in a digital computer that interprets the instructions and processes contained in the programs, making thousands of millions of mathematical calculations every second. It is made of hundreds of millions of transistors which act as switches, letting the current flow through them (1) or not (0). That is why any information that a computer handles has to be expressed in Binary Code.
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)
A system of transmission of data destined to digital devices that require a much greater bandwidth compared to the traditional analog. The main advantage of HDMI is that it is capable of transmitting uncompressed audio and video signals through the same cable, allowing superior results.
USB
The most important port nowadays, and allows to connect to the motherboard almost any peripheral device.
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
A type of data transmission connector that, unlike the old PATA, is bidirectional and achieves higher data transfer rates per second.
PATA (Parallel ATA, wrongly called IDE)
The old standard of connection of storage devices and data, almost from the creation of the personal computer. It is a unidirectional bus that allows the connection of two devices in parallel, although both devices must act in turns if they wish to access the same data. Since both devices share the same data band, you must tell the system whether the device is a master or a slave.