The four main functions of a computer are data processing, data storage, and data movement control.
Data processing:
Data may take a wide variety of forms, and the range of processing requirements is the board. However, we shall see that there are a few fundamental methods or types of data processing.
Data storage:
Even if the computer’s processing data is on the fly, the computer must temporarily store at least those pieces of data that are being worked on at any given movement. Thus there is at least a short-term data storage function.
Data movement:
The computer’s operating environment consists of devices that serve as either sources or the destination of data. When data are received from or delivered to a device that is directly connected to the computer, the process is known as input-output, and the device is referred to as a peripheral. When data are moved over longer distances to or from a remote device, the process is known as data communications.
Control:
Within the computer, a control unit manages the computer’s resources and orchestrates the performance of its functional parts in response to instructions.
