A computer is a
machine that can be programmed to
carry out
"Carry Out" is a song recorded by American producer and rapper Timbaland for his third studio album ''Shock Value II'' (2009). The song features guest vocals from longtime collaborator, American recording artist Justin Timberlake. Timbaland and Ti ...
sequences of
arithmetic
Arithmetic () is an elementary part of mathematics that consists of the study of the properties of the traditional operations on numbers—addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation, and extraction of roots. In the 19th c ...
or
logical operations (
computation) automatically. Modern
digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as
programs
Program, programme, programmer, or programming may refer to:
Business and management
* Program management, the process of managing several related projects
* Time management
* Program, a part of planning
Arts and entertainment Audio
* Programm ...
. These programs enable computers to perform a wide range of tasks. A computer system is a nominally complete computer that includes the
hardware,
operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common daemon (computing), services for computer programs.
Time-sharing operating systems scheduler (computing), schedule tasks for ef ...
(main
software
Software is a set of computer programs and associated software documentation, documentation and data (computing), data. This is in contrast to Computer hardware, hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work.
...
), and
peripheral
A peripheral or peripheral device is an auxiliary device used to put information into and get information out of a computer. The term ''peripheral device'' refers to all hardware components that are attached to a computer and are controlled by th ...
equipment needed and used for full operation. This term may also refer to a group of computers that are linked and function together, such as a
computer network
A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes. The computers use common communication protocols over digital intercon