A computer is made up of four basic units: input unit, output unit, central processing unit and memory.

As its name suggests, an input unit is a device that allows the user to interact with the computer, providing it with data and information that will be processed, the keyboard being the most trivial example.

An output unit, on the other hand, is used to provide the computer user with the results of the processing carried out. A video monitor and a printer are examples of output units. The central processing unit is responsible for all the processing required and is commonly known as the cpu, which stands for central processing unit.

Memory, on the other hand, stores data and information that will be used in processing, temporary storage, because when the computer is turned off everything stored in it is no longer stored (we say that all memory is “erased”).