What is the basic working principle of modern computers?

The basic working principle of modern computers is based on numerical calculations and logical operations. Through the collaborative work of hardware and software, data storage, processing and output are realized. The working principle of a computer involves the execution of instructions, the transmission of data, and the hierarchical structure of memory. The understanding and application of these principles are the basis for programmers to develop software and maintain systems.

# Operating system for this tutorial: Windows 10 system, Dell G3 computer.

The basic working principle of modern computers is based on numerical calculations and logical operations, which includes hardware and software.

In terms of hardware, the basic components of a computer include the central processing unit (CPU), memory, input and output devices, and storage devices. The CPU is the core of the computer and is responsible for executing the instructions in the program. Memory is used to store programs and data and can read and write data quickly. Input and output devices are used to interact with the outside world, such as keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers. Storage devices are used to store data for long periods of time, such as hard drives and solid-state drives.

The core of the computer is to represent information through binary. All data and instructions are stored and processed in binary form. The electronic components inside the computer can only understand and operate on two high and low levels.

The basic working principle of a computer can be divided into four stages: fetching instructions, parsing instructions, executing instructions and storing results. First, the CPU fetches the next instruction to be executed from memory and stores it in the instruction register. The CPU then parses the instruction and determines the sum operands that need to be performed. Next, the CPU performs corresponding operations according to the instructions, including arithmetic operations, logical operations, data transmission and control instructions. Finally, the CPU stores the execution results in memory or registers.

Computer operations are implemented through logic gate circuits. Logic gate circuits include AND gates, OR gates, NOT gates, NAND gates, XOR gates, etc. These logic gate circuits can implement various complex logic operations and numerical calculations through combination and connection.

In addition to hardware, software is also an important part of modern computers. Software is a collection of instructions and data that guides a computer to do its work. Software can be divided into two levels: system software and application software. System software includes operating systems, compilers, linkers, libraries, etc., and is used to manage and control the computer's hardware resources. Application software is software developed for specific tasks, such as word processing software, image processing software, and game software.

The basic working principle of a computer also includes the execution of programs and the hierarchical structure of memory. Program execution means that the computer executes instructions in sequence and jumps to other instructions as needed. The memory hierarchy includes registers, cache, memory, external memory, etc. The memory hierarchy stores data and instructions in different storage media based on access speed and capacity requirements.

To sum up, the basic working principle of modern computers is based on numerical calculations and logical operations. It realizes the storage, processing and output of data through the collaborative work of hardware and software. The working principle of a computer involves the execution of instructions, the transmission of data, and the hierarchical structure of memory. The understanding and application of these principles are the basis for programmers to carry out software development and system maintenance.

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