Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Network Interface Card
LAN
F
IGURE
1.7
A local area network connects computers in close proximity to each other.
1.4
What unit is used to measure CPU speed?
1.5
What is a bit? What is a byte?
1.6
What is memory for? What does RAM stand for? Why is memory called RAM?
1.7
What unit is used to measure memory size?
1.8
What unit is used to measure disk size?
1.9
What is the primary difference between memory and a storage device?
Computer
programs
, known as
software
, are instructions that tell a computer what to do.
Key
Point
Computers do not understand human languages, so programs must be written in a language a
computer can use. There are hundreds of programming languages, and they were developed to
make the programming process easier for people. However, all programs must be converted
into a language the computer can understand.
1.3.1 Machine Language
A computer's native language, which differs among different types of computers, is its
machine language—
a set of built-in primitive instructions. These instructions are in the form
of binary code, so if you want to give a computer an instruction in its native language, you
machine language
