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Computer
The word computer can be defined in many ways and can also take many different meanings; a somewhat common definition may be this: computer is a machine that automatically performs mathematical computations. We can also see it as a machine for processing information or, very generally, as any tool that helps computation, in which case one's fingers or even a mathematical formula itself can be considered a computer. Here we are of course mostly concerned with electronic digital computers.
We can divide computers based on many attributes, e.g.:
- by representation of data: digital vs analog
- by hardware technology: electronic, mechanical, biological etc.
- by purpose: special purpose vs general purpose, personal, embedded, supercomputers etc.
- by programmability: non-programmable, partially or fully programmable
- by other criteria: conventional vs quantum computers etc.