Computers

Computers are programmable electronic devices that accept data, process it according to a sequence of instructions, and produce information as output. They store data and instructions in memory, and represent information in binary form.

Concepts of computation date to earlier devices and theories. The first electronic general-purpose computers were developed in the 1940s, such as ENIAC and Colossus. The invention of the transistor in 1947 and later the integrated circuit in the 1960s enabled smaller, more reliable machines. Microprocessors in the early 1970s led to personal computers in the late 1970s and 1980s, and subsequent generations expanded mobile devices, servers, and embedded systems.

Most modern computers follow a stored-program architecture: a central processing unit executes instructions stored in memory, supported by primary memory (RAM) and non-volatile storage (hard drives, SSDs). Input/output subsystems connect to external devices; communication among components occurs over buses and interconnects.

Computers vary widely in form and purpose, from desktops and laptops to servers, smartphones, and embedded systems in appliances and vehicles. They run software, including operating systems that manage resources and applications that perform specific tasks. Networks connect computers to share data and services, forming local networks and the Internet.

Computers have transformed science, industry, and daily life by enabling automation, data analysis, and communication. Ongoing trends include parallel processing, cloud computing, machine learning, and ongoing research in quantum computing and new hardware architectures.