The term “computer” is a derivative of the verb “to compute”. A computer is an electronic device that processes data by means of programmable calculation rules. A computer typically consists of two components, hardware and software. Hardware refers to the material, technical components, for example the hard disk and the main memory. Software, on the other hand, describes the digital programmes, for example the operating system of a computer. Hardware and software are interlocked in a computer and work together.
In common usage, the term “computer” has become established for the PC (personal computer). However, the PC is only one group of devices that can be called a computer. Computers are found in many electronic devices, for example in washing machines and modern cars but as well in smartphones and wearables.