Where does a computer store a program and data that the program is working with while the program is running?

What is a program?

In computing, a program is a specific set of ordered operations for a computer to perform. In the modern computer that John von Neumann outlined in 1945, the program contains a one-at-a-time sequence of instructions that the computer follows. Typically, the program is put into a storage area accessible to the computer. The computer gets one instruction and performs it and then gets the next instruction. The storage area or memory can also contain the data that the instruction operates on. Note that a program is also a special kind of data that indicates how to operate on application or user data.

Computer programs can be characterized as interactive or batch in terms of what drives them and how continuously they run.

  • Interactive programs. These programs receive data from an interactive user or possibly from another program that simulates an interactive user. A command interpreter or a web browser are examples of an interactive program.
  • Batch programs. These programs run, do their work and then stop. A batch program can be started directly by a user, or it can be invoked to run by an interactive program. A program that computes and prints out a company payroll is an example of a batch program. Print jobs are also batch programs.

Creating a program

When you create a program, you write it using some kind of computer language. Your language statements are the source program. You then compile the source program with a special program called a language compiler, and the result is called an object program -- not to be confused with object-oriented programming. There are several synonyms for object program, including object module and compiled program. The object program contains the string of 0s and 1s called machine language that the logic processor works with.

The machine language of the computer is constructed by the language compiler with an understanding of the computer's logic architecture, including the set of possible computer instructions and the length, or number of bits, in an instruction.

All kinds of automation mean all kinds of programs, written and run by ordinary people. Learn how improving your math skills can enhance your programming skills.

This was last updated in November 2021

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Where does a computer store a program and the data?

At the core of the computer is the central processing unit or CPU, the source of control that runs all programs and instructions. In order to function, computers use two types of memory: primary and secondary. The main storage is the primary memory, and data and programs are stored in secondary memory.

Where does a computer store a program and the data that the program is working with while the program is running main memory CPU secondary storage microprocessor?

As we know, programs can be stored in our hard drives. Nevertheless, this kind of storage is too slow in comparison with the CPU, microprocessors. We only use them because they provide cheap, huge storage.

Where programs and data that we are currently working on are stored?

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the hardware in a computing device where the operating system (OS), application programs and data in current use are kept so they can be quickly reached by the device's processor. RAM is the main memory in a computer.

What part of a computer is used to store data when it is running?

Random access memory (RAM) is computer hardware that temporarily stores data that can be quickly accessed by the computer's processor.