Memory
To process data, a computer must bring the data into its memory.
- Computer memory is a working area where programs can place information they are using.
- When it starts, each program gets its own area of memory, which other programs can't use.
- When a program finishes running, it releases all of its memory so that other programs can use it when they are run.
The smallest unit of memory is a bit. * A bit is like a light switch: it's either on or off (1 or 0). * In reality, it's like a bucket. * When it's full of electrons, it's ON: this is a 1. * When it's not, this is a 0. * There are only two options, 0 or 1.
Practice Exercise¶
The takeaway: all data is stored in memory as 0's and 1's.