Computer architecture

Computer Architecture

Computer architecture (pronounced: /kəmˈpjuːtər ˈɑːrkɪtɛktʃər/) is a set of rules and methods that describe the functionality, organization, and implementation of computer systems. The term can also refer to the design of a specific computer system's hardware.

Etymology

The term "computer architecture" originated in the world of computer science during the early stages of the development of computers. It is a combination of the words "computer", derived from the Latin word "computare" which means to calculate, and "architecture", from the Latin "architectura", which refers to the process and product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings. In this context, it refers to the planning, design, and construction of a computer system.

Related Terms

Instruction Set Architecture (ISA): The part of the computer architecture related to programming, including the native data types, instructions, registers, addressing modes, memory architecture, interrupt and exception handling, and external I/O.

Microarchitecture: Also known as computer organization, this is a lower level description of the system that involves the way the hardware is controlled and the way that it interacts with memory.

System Design: This includes all hardware components in the system, including data processors aside from the CPU, such as the graphics processing unit and system I/O.

Parallel Systems: This refers to the simultaneous use of multiple compute resources to solve a computational problem.

Computer Hardware: The collection of physical parts of a computer system. This includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It also includes all the parts inside the computer case, such as the hard disk drive, motherboard and video card.