A computeris a general purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence of operations can be readilychanged, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem.Conventionally,a computer consists of at least one processing element, typically a centralprocessing unit (CPU) and some form of memory. The processing element carriesout arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit that canchange the order of operations based on stored information. Peripheral devices allow information to be retrieved from an external source, and the result ofoperations saved and retrieved.