100 Computer Related GK Questions and Answers for Competitive Exams

A sound understanding of computer concepts is essential not only for everyday tasks but also for competitive examinations. Several competitive exams such as those for banking, Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and other government jobs increasingly include a section dedicated to computer literacy.

These sections test candidates on basic hardware and software knowledge, operating systems, Internet and networking, databases, and security practices, among other topics. Excelling in this section can significantly enhance one’s overall score and increase the chances of securing the desired job. Thus, preparing well for computer-related questions is as crucial as any other subject.

Below are 100 diverse computer related GK questions designed to cover a wide array of topics, ensuring comprehensive preparation for aspirants.

100 Computer Related GK Questions and Answers

1. What is the primary function of the CPU?
   • Answer: The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is responsible for interpreting and executing most of the commands from the computer’s other hardware and software.
2. Which device is used to process data?
   • Answer: The computer.
3. What does ‘HTTP’ stand for?
   • Answer: HyperText Transfer Protocol.
4. Name the default file manager in Windows.
   • Answer: Windows Explorer.
5. What is an IP address?
   • Answer: An IP address is a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network.
6. What does PDF stand for?
   • Answer: Portable Document Format.
7. Which operating system is developed and used by Apple Inc.?
   • Answer: macOS.
8. What is phishing?
   • Answer: Phishing is a type of social engineering attack often used to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers.
9. What shortcut is used for copying in Windows?
   • Answer: Ctrl + C.
10. What is a gigabyte?
    • Answer: A gigabyte is approximately 1 billion bytes.
11. Which language is predominantly used for artificial intelligence?
    • Answer: Python.
12. What does ‘GUI’ stand for and what does it mean?
    • Answer: Graphical User Interface; it allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators.
13. What is open-source software?
    • Answer: Software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.
14. Name a popular Microsoft Office application.
    • Answer: Microsoft Excel.
15. What is the function of RAM in a computer?
    • Answer: RAM (Random Access Memory) is used by the computer to store data and programs that are being used actively.
16. What is a URL?
    • Answer: URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of a web page on the world wide web.
17. Name the first programmable computer.
    • Answer: The Z1 created by Konrad Zuse in 1936.
18. What is cloud computing?
    • Answer: Cloud computing is the delivery of different services through the Internet, including data storage, servers, databases, networking, and software.
19. Which component is also known as the brain of the computer?
    • Answer: The Central Processing Unit (CPU).
20. What is a firewall?
    • Answer: A security system that uses rules to block or allow connections into and out of a network.

21. What is the main function of the operating system?

• Answer: The main function of an operating system is to manage the computer’s hardware and software resources and provide common services for computer programs.

22. Which type of memory is non-volatile and can be erased and reprogrammed?

• Answer: Flash memory.

23. What does the term ‘booting’ refer to in a computer system?

• Answer: Booting is the process of starting up a computer and loading the operating system into the RAM from the computer’s internal storage, such as a hard drive or SSD.

24. Name the default spreadsheet software in Microsoft Office.

• Answer: Microsoft Excel.

25. What does ‘LAN’ stand for, and what is its use?

• Answer: Local Area Network; it connects computers within a limited area such as a residence, school, or office building to allow sharing of resources like files and printers.

26. What is a common method for securing a wireless network?

• Answer: Encrypting the network with WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access II) is a common method for securing a wireless network.

27. What is ‘Big Data’?

• Answer: Big Data refers to extremely large data sets that may be analyzed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behavior and interactions.

28. What does ‘FTP’ stand for, and what is its purpose?

• Answer: File Transfer Protocol; it is a standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server on a computer network.

29. What is the main advantage of using dual-core processors over single-core processors?

• Answer: Dual-core processors can handle more tasks at a time, improving performance for both multitasking and complex applications.

30. Which tool in Microsoft Windows is typically used for disk management?

• Answer: Disk Management tool.

31. What is a cookie in web browsing?

• Answer: A cookie is a small file that the server embeds on the user’s computer. Each time the same computer requests a page with a browser, it will send the cookie too. They are used to identify users and potentially prepare customized web pages for them.

32. What is the primary use of Adobe Photoshop?

• Answer: Adobe Photoshop is primarily used for image editing and manipulation.

33. Which hardware device connects your computer to the Internet?

• Answer: A modem.

34. What is the difference between an SSD and an HDD?

• Answer: SSD (Solid State Drive) uses flash memory to provide faster access and read speeds, while HDD (Hard Disk Drive) uses mechanical platters and a moving read/write head to access data.

35. What does ‘ASCII’ stand for, and what is its purpose?

• Answer: American Standard Code for Information Interchange; it is a character encoding standard used for electronic communication.

36. What is the primary benefit of using cloud storage?

• Answer: The primary benefit of using cloud storage is accessibility, as it allows users to access data from anywhere through the internet.

37. What is the function of a router in a network?

• Answer: A router directs traffic between different networks, managing the flow of data between the home or business networks and the Internet.

38. What does VPN stand for, and why is it used?

• Answer: Virtual Private Network; it is used to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet, typically to access region-restricted websites, shield browsing activity from public Wi-Fi, and more.

39. What is the significance of defragmenting a hard drive?

• Answer: Defragmenting a hard drive reorganizes the fragmented data, which can help improve the system’s overall speed and efficiency.

40. What is the difference between software and hardware?

• Answer: Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer, while software refers to the collection of instructions that directs the hardware to perform tasks.

41. What is the function of DNS on the internet?

• Answer: DNS (Domain Name System) translates domain names to IP addresses so browsers can load internet resources.

42. Name a commonly used data encryption standard.

• Answer: AES (Advanced Encryption Standard).

43. What does the term ‘pixel’ mean?

• Answer: A pixel (Picture Element) is the smallest unit of a digital image or graphic that can be displayed and edited on a digital display device.

44. What is ‘malware’ short for and what does it do?

• Answer: Malware is short for malicious software; it is designed to harm or exploit any programmable device, service, or network.

45. Which software application is used for creating vector graphics?

• Answer: Adobe Illustrator.

46. What is a motherboard?

• Answer: A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in general-purpose computers and other expandable systems which holds and allows communication between many of the crucial electronic components of a system.

47. What is the primary benefit of using an SSD over an HDD?

• Answer: The primary benefit is speed; SSDs have faster data access, boot times, and file transfer rates.

48. What does ‘ROM’ stand for, and what is its function?

• Answer: ROM stands for Read-Only Memory. It is a type of non-volatile storage that is primarily used to store firmware that is rarely changed or updated.

49. What is the use of a sound card in a computer?

• Answer: A sound card is used to allow the computer to process audio output to external speakers and to record sound input from a microphone.

50. What is ‘SaaS’? Provide an example.

• Answer: SaaS (Software as a Service) is a software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a third-party provider and made available to customers over the internet. An example is Google Docs.

51. Define the term ‘bitrate’.

• Answer: Bitrate is the number of bits per second that can be transmitted along a digital network.

52. What is a ‘cache’ in computing?

• Answer: A cache is a hardware or software component that stores data so future requests for that data can be served faster.

53. Name the protocol that is used to secure sessions over the internet.

• Answer: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor TLS (Transport Layer Security).

54. What is the difference between ‘analog’ and ‘digital’ signals?

• Answer: Analog signals represent data in continuous waves, while digital signals represent data in discrete binary values (0s and 1s).

55. What is a ‘kernel’ in the context of operating systems?

• Answer: The kernel is the core component of an operating system, managing the system’s resources and the communication between hardware and software components.

56. Name a popular tool for managing relational databases.

• Answer: MySQL.

57. What is meant by ‘bandwidth’ in network terms?

• Answer: Bandwidth is the maximum rate of data transfer across a given path.

58. Describe the purpose of an Ethernet cable.

• Answer: An Ethernet cable is used to connect devices within a local area network (LAN), such as routers, computers, and switches.

59. What is a ‘driver’ in the context of software?

• Answer: A driver is a type of software that allows the computer operating system to communicate with hardware devices.

60. What does ‘NFC’ stand for, and what is its use?

• Answer: NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It is a set of communication protocols that enable two electronic devices, one of which is usually a portable device such as a smartphone, to establish communication by bringing them within 4 cm of each other.

61. What is a compiler?

• Answer: A compiler is a software that translates programs written in a high-level programming language into machine language so that the computer’s processor can execute it.

62. What does ‘API’ stand for, and what is its purpose?

• Answer: API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of rules and tools for building software applications which specifies how software components should interact.

63. What is the difference between lossy and lossless compression?

• Answer: Lossy compression reduces file size by removing data, potentially degrading quality (common in JPEG images and MP3 audio), while lossless compression reduces file size without any loss of quality, allowing the original data to be perfectly reconstructed (common in PNG images and FLAC audio).

64. What is the significance of the Turing Test?

• Answer: The Turing Test, developed by Alan Turing in 1950, is a measure of a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human being.

65. What is an algorithm?

• Answer: An algorithm is a set of step-by-step procedures or a set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.

66. Define ‘cloud computing’.

• Answer: Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.

67. What is the main function of a graphics processing unit (GPU)?

• Answer: A GPU is a specialized processor designed to accelerate graphics rendering.

68. Name two primary types of computer memory.

• Answer: RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read-Only Memory).

69. What is ‘quantum computing’?

• Answer: Quantum computing is a type of computing that uses quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data.

70. What does ‘RDBMS’ stand for and give an example?

• Answer: Relational Database Management System; an example is Oracle Database.

71. Explain what an operating system does.

• Answer: An operating system (OS) manages all the software and hardware on the computer. It performs basic tasks such as file management, memory management, process management, handling input and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

72. What does ‘HTML’ stand for?

• Answer: HyperText Markup Language.

73. What is virtualization?

• Answer: Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual version of something, such as a virtual computer hardware platform, operating system (OS), storage device, or network resources.

74. What is a firewall and how does it protect a computer network?

• Answer: A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network, such as the Internet.

75. Name a commonly used programming language for developing websites.

• Answer: JavaScript.

76. What is a macro, in the context of software?

• Answer: A macro in software is a series of commands and instructions that are grouped together as a single command to accomplish a task automatically.

77. What is ‘VoIP’?

• Answer: VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and it refers to the technology that allows people to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.

78. What does ‘SSD’ stand for?

• Answer: Solid State Drive.

79. Explain the function of a server in a network.

• Answer: A server is a computer or system that provides resources, data, services, or programs to other computers, known as clients, over a network. In theory, whenever computers share resources with client machines they are considered servers.

80. What is the primary function of Bluetooth technology?

• Answer: Bluetooth technology is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances using short-wavelength UHF radio waves in the ISM bands, from 2.402 GHz to 2.48 GHz, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security.

81. What is ‘data mining’?

• Answer: Data mining is the process of discovering patterns and knowledge from large amounts of data. The data sources can include databases, data warehouses, the web, and other information repositories or data that are streamed into the system dynamically.

82. Name the process to convert software programs into machine language that is understandable by the computer’s processor.

• Answer: Compilation.

83. What is an ‘applet’?

• Answer: An applet is a small application designed to run within another application. Unlike a full-fledged application, an applet has limited access to resources and is typically used to perform a specific task within a larger program.

84. Explain what ‘augmented reality’ (AR) is.

• Answer: Augmented reality is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, and olfactory.

85. What does ‘FTP’ stand for, and what is its purpose?

• Answer: FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and it is a standard network protocol used to transfer computer files between a client and server on a computer network.

86. What is a ‘hyperlink’?

• Answer: A hyperlink is a reference to data that the user can follow by clicking or tapping. A hyperlink points to a whole document or to a specific element within a document.

87. Define the term ‘software bug’.

• Answer: A software bug is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways.

88. What is the primary use of the ‘Excel’ software from Microsoft?

• Answer: Microsoft Excel is primarily used for spreadsheet management, data analysis, and complex calculations.

89. What does ‘MPEG’ stand for, and what is it used for?

• Answer: MPEG stands for Moving Picture Experts Group, and it is a working group of experts that develops video and audio encoding standards. MPEG has been used in various compression formats including digital video and audio broadcasting, internet streaming, and more.

90. What is a ‘botnet’?

• Answer: A botnet is a number of Internet-connected devices, each of which is running one or more bots. Botnets can be used to perform distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, steal data, and send spam.

91. Explain the term ‘gigahertz’ in the context of computer processors.

• Answer: Gigahertz (GHz) refers to the operating speed of a computer’s CPU or processor, indicating how many billion cycles per second it can perform.

92. What is ‘E-commerce’?

• Answer: E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, and the transfer of money and data to execute these transactions.

93. What is the difference between ‘upload’ and ‘download’?

• Answer: Uploading is the process of sending data from a local system to a remote system such as a server, while downloading is the process of receiving data from a remote system to a local system.

94. Define ‘artificial intelligence’.

• Answer: Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers. The capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior.

95. What does the term ‘pixel’ stand for?

• Answer: Pixel stands for “picture element”, it is the smallest unit of a digital image or graphic that can be displayed and edited on a digital display system.

96. Name a standard protocol for securing network communications by encrypting data.

• Answer: TLS (Transport Layer Security).

97. What is ‘JavaScript’?

• Answer: JavaScript is a high-level, often just-in-time compiled, and multi-paradigm programming language that conforms to the ECMAScript specification. JavaScript is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, enabling interactive web pages and is an essential part of web applications.

98. Explain what a ‘web server’ is.

• Answer: A web server is a computer that stores web server software and a website’s component files (e.g., HTML documents, images, CSS stylesheets, and JavaScript files). It is connected to the Internet and supports physical data interchange with other devices connected to the web.

99. What is ‘CSS’ used for in web development?

• Answer: CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used in web development to define the presentation of a web page’s markup languages, like HTML, including colors, layout, and fonts. It is intended to simplify the process of making web pages presentable.

100. What is ‘ransomware’?

• Answer: Ransomware is a type of malicious software from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the victim’s data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid.

These 100 computer-related GK questions span a comprehensive range of topics, from fundamental computing concepts to advanced technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence. This collection is curated to enhance your preparation for competitive exams and technological literacy. Mastery of these questions not only prepares you for test scenarios but also enriches your understanding of the digital world.