Welcome to the foundational layer of computer science. If you’ve ever wondered how a computer, an intricate machine of circuits and wires, can run complex software, you’re in the right place. This guide will demystify the fundamental ways computers represent, store, and access information at their most basic level.

Understanding these core concepts provides critical insight into how programs interface with the OS, processor, and BIOS. It reveals how data is represented in memory and other external devices, how the processor accesses and executes instructions, and how those instructions process data—forming the bedrock of all software development.