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11 lines
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11 lines
1.1 KiB
Markdown
# Computer
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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](math.md) formula itself can be considered a computer. Here we are of course mostly concerned with electronic [digital](digital.md) computers.
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We can divide computers based on many attributes, e.g.:
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- by **representation of data**: [digital](digital.md) vs [analog](analog.md)
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- by **[hardware](hw.md) technology**: [electronic](electronics.md), [mechanical](mechanical.md), biological etc.
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- by **purpose**: special purpose vs general purpose, [personal](pc.md), [embedded](embedded.md), [supercomputers](supercomputer.md) etc.
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- by **[programmability](programming.md)**: non-programmable, partially or fully programmable
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- by **other criteria**: conventional vs [quantum computers](quantum.md) etc. |