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The Four Equipment Functions
of a Computer System

There are four main equipment functions of a computer system:
Input, Processing, Storage and Output

Input:  the transferring of  information into a computer system - for our purposes this will be accomplished when you, the programmer, type source code at the keyboard or open a previously typed program.

Processing:  the manipulation and control of information within the computer system.  Such manipulations are handled by the Control Unit, the Arithmetic Logic Unit and Temporary Storage.

Storage:  the means by which information can be "permanently" saved (until such time as you wish to delete it).  This usually occurs on a hard drive, a diskette or a CD.

Output:  the displaying of information - for our purposes this will be accomplished when your program displays information on the monitor or printed on paper.