What is computer science
  Cookie settings search person_outline arrow_drop_down menu navigate_before  Tutorial search Computer Basics: What is a Computer? What is a computer? A  computer  is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to  store ,  retrieve , and  process  data. You may already know that you can use a computer to  type documents ,  send email ,  play games , and  browse the Web . You can also use it to edit or create  spreadsheets ,  presentations , and even  videos . Watch the video below to learn about different types of computers. Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it  here . Hardware vs. software Before we talk about different types of computers, let's talk about two things all computers have in common:  hardware  and  software . Hardware  is any part of your computer that has a  physical structure , such as the keyboard or mo...