Frequently asked questions with down to earth answers

1.What is computer programming?

Ans. Computer programming is writing a file in computer storage area in any
computer language like fortran, basic, pascal, C, java etc. The program uses
words as specified in the grammer of that language. The program may finally
be executed by the computer as exactly specified in the program contents.
The program must include certain declarations and instructions. So a specific set
of declarations (about number system, screen details, hardware and software configurations) and instructions (action items for the CPU, memory, arithmatic
and logic operations) are used by the programmer from the library of the programming language. If the program is complete and ready for use, it is
checked for faults or bugs so that the computer should not stop or get lost in a endless loop sequence.

2. What is a byte?

Ans. A byte is a single unit of memory. Computer memory comes as blocks of bytes. A byte consists of 8 bits of memory elements placed sequentially. Each bit
can have only 2 values 0 or 1. Thus with 8 bits or a byte, a total of 256 (2 to the power 8) different codes/numbers/symbols/colors can be represented. Let's take
an example of a black and white picture of 640 by 480 dots (or bits) of picture elements. So we need 640 x 480 bits or 3072 bits in total for storing the picture. Since 1 byte comprises of 8 bits we need 384 bytes(3072 devided by 8) of memory. In case of color picture, each dot can be 1 out of a 256 color set. So the
picture would occupy 384 x 256 bytes or 98.304 Kbytes.

3. What is a computer file?

Ans. A file is a group of sequentially placed computer words or bytes beginning with a name and ending with a end of file mark. The file may contain a program, data (numbers, alphabets, other characters), picture details, text and so on. Every
file has a filename and occupies a size( no. of bytes) in a computer.

4. How filenames are chosen?

Ans. Filenames are chosen to be meaningful to the computer operating systems.
Any computer is controlled by its operating system like dos, window 3.1, window 95, window 98, linex and so on. The extension part of the filename (like .exe, .jpg, .dat, .xls, .doc etc) is very important for execution by an application program. The file format or the order of arrangement of information in a file is decided by the file extension. Notepad application can handle a .txt file, but not a .bmp file. Paintbrush application can handle a .bmp file, but not a .txt file. The operating system is trained to pass on a file to an application program, depending on the file extension.

Frequently asked questions with answers

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