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Computer program facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A computer program is like a set of instructions that tells a computer exactly what to do. Think of it as a recipe for a computer! Every single thing your computer does, from showing you a web page to playing a video game, happens because of a computer program.

These instructions are stored inside the computer's memory. This idea, called "internal programming," lets computers do many tasks one after another. A smart mathematician named John von Neumann came up with this in the 1940s. The very first digital computer designed with this ability was called EDVAC, built in 1949.

What Are Some Computer Programs?

You use computer programs all the time! Here are some common examples:

How Do Computer Programs Work?

A computer program is saved as a file on your computer's hard drive. When you click on a program to open it, the computer reads this file. The computer's "brain," called the processor, then follows the instructions in the file. It's like the computer is reading a step-by-step guide and doing exactly what it says.

Who Writes Computer Programs?

People who write computer programs are called programmers. It's very hard to write instructions using only the ones and zeroes that computers understand directly. This is called machine code.

So, programmers use special programming languages instead. These languages are easier for humans to understand. Some popular programming languages are BASIC, C, and Java.

Once a programmer writes the program in one of these languages, they use a special tool called a compiler. The compiler translates the program into the machine code (ones and zeroes) that the computer can finally understand and run.

What Are Bad Programs (Malware)?

Not all computer programs are helpful. Some programs are made by people who want to cause trouble. These bad programs are called malware.

  • Some malware is spyware. It tries to secretly collect information from your computer.
  • Other malware might try to damage the files saved on your hard drive.
  • Some malware sends you to web sites that try to sell you things you don't need.
  • There are also computer viruses, which can spread to other computers, and ransomware, which can lock your files until you pay money.

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Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Programa informático para niños

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