
Computer | Definition, History, Operating Systems, & Facts
Dec 22, 2025 · A computer is a programmable device for processing, storing, and displaying information. Learn more in this article about modern digital electronic computers and their …
Computer - Technology, Invention, History | Britannica
Dec 22, 2025 · Computer - Technology, Invention, History: By the second decade of the 19th century, a number of ideas necessary for the invention of the computer were in the air.
What is a computer? | Britannica
Dec 22, 2025 · A computer is a machine that can store and process information. Most computers rely on a binary system, which uses two variables, 0 and 1, to complete tasks such as storing …
computer summary | Britannica
Computer, device for processing, storing, and displaying information. Computer once meant a person who did computations, but now the term almost universally refers to automated …
Personal computer (PC) | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica
personal computer (PC), a digital computer designed for use by only one person at a time.
Computer science | Definition, Types, & Facts | Britannica
Jan 23, 2026 · Computer science is the study of computers and computing, including their theoretical and algorithmic foundations, hardware and software, and their uses for processing …
Y2K bug | Definition, Hysteria, & Facts | Britannica
What was the Y2K bug? Why did using two digits for the year in computers cause a problem? How could the Y2K bug affect computer systems and everyday life? What steps did people …
Computer - Memory, Storage, Processing | Britannica
Dec 22, 2025 · Computer - Memory, Storage, Processing: The earliest forms of computer main memory were mercury delay lines, which were tubes of mercury that stored data as ultrasonic …
Computer programming language | Definition, Examples,
A computer programming language is any of various languages for expressing a set of detailed instructions for a computer. The earliest programming languages were assembly languages, …
Computer memory | Types, Capacity & Speed | Britannica
Jan 22, 2026 · Computer memory is divided into main (or primary) memory and auxiliary (or secondary) memory. Main memory holds instructions and data when a program is executing, …