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  1. Computer | Definition, History, Operating Systems, & Facts | Britannica

    Feb 6, 2026 · A computer is a programmable device for processing, storing, and displaying information. Learn more in this article about modern digital electronic computers and their design, constituent …

  2. What is a computer? | Britannica

    A computer is a machine that can store and process information. Most computers rely on a binary system, which uses two variables, 0 and 1, to complete tasks such as storing data, calculating …

  3. Computer - Technology, Invention, History | Britannica

    Feb 6, 2026 · Computer - Technology, Invention, History: By the second decade of the 19th century, a number of ideas necessary for the invention of the computer were in the air.

  4. Computer - History, Technology, Innovation | Britannica

    Feb 6, 2026 · It is not too great a stretch to say that, in the Jacquard loom, programming was invented before the computer. The close relationship between the device and the program became apparent …

  5. computer summary | Britannica

    computer, Programmable machine that can store, retrieve, and process data. A computer consists of the central processing unit (CPU), main memory (or random-access memory, RAM), and peripherals …

  6. Artificial intelligence (AI) | Definition, Examples, Types ...

    17 hours ago · Artificial intelligence is the ability of a computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks that are commonly associated with the intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as …

  7. Computer science | Definition, Types, & Facts | Britannica

    Jan 23, 2026 · Computer science is the study of computers and computing, including their theoretical and algorithmic foundations, hardware and software, and their uses for processing information.

  8. Computer programming language | Definition, Examples, & Popularity ...

    Feb 13, 2026 · A computer programming language is any of various languages for expressing a set of detailed instructions for a computer. The earliest programming languages were assembly languages, …

  9. Computer - Home Use, Microprocessors, Software | Britannica

    Feb 6, 2026 · Computer - Home Use, Microprocessors, Software: Before 1970, computers were big machines requiring thousands of separate transistors. They were operated by specialized …

  10. Computer program | Definition & Facts | Britannica

    The first digital computer designed with internal programming capacity was the “Baby,” constructed at Manchester in 1948. A program is prepared by first formulating a task and then expressing it in an …