This comprehensive collection of Computer Basics MCQs is specifically crafted to enhance understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles that underpin computer science and information technology. Covering key topics such as computer hardware, software, operating systems, networking, and internet fundamentals, these questions aim to reinforce both theoretical knowledge and practical application. Ideal for beginners, students preparing for exams in computer science or IT, and professionals seeking to refresh their foundational skills, this set focuses on the essential elements that contribute to a solid understanding of computer systems.
Who should practice Computer Basics MCQs?
- Beginners looking to familiarize themselves with computer concepts and terminology.
- Students preparing for exams in computer science, information technology, or related fields.
- Professionals seeking to strengthen their foundational knowledge of computer systems for career advancement.
- Individuals preparing for certification exams in basic computer skills or IT fundamentals.
- Anyone interested in building a strong foundation in computer basics to pursue further studies or a career in technology, support, or administration.
1. What does CPU stand for?
A) Central Processing Unit
B) Central Program Unit
C) Control Processing Unit
D) Central Peripheral Unit
View AnswerA
2. Which of the following is a non-volatile memory?
A) RAM
B) ROM
C) Cache
D) Register
View AnswerB
3. What is the main function of an operating system?
A) To execute programs
B) To manage hardware and software resources
C) To provide a user interface
D) All of the above
View AnswerD
4. Which of these is a type of malware?
A) Firewall
B) Antivirus
C) Virus
D) Router
View AnswerC
5. What does GUI stand for?
A) Graphical User Interface
B) General User Interface
C) Graphical Universal Interface
D) General Universal Interface
View AnswerA
6. What is the function of RAM?
A) To store data permanently
B) To store data temporarily
C) To process data
D) To manage input/output operations
View AnswerB
7. Which device is used to connect computers to a network?
A) Monitor
B) Router
C) Printer
D) Scanner
View AnswerB
8. What is an IP address?
A) Internet Provider address
B) Internet Protocol address
C) Internal Program address
D) Internal Protocol address
View AnswerB
9. Which of the following is an example of an input device?
A) Monitor
B) Printer
C) Keyboard
D) Speaker
View AnswerC
10. What does HTTP stand for?
A) Hypertext Transfer Protocol
B) Hypertext Transmission Protocol
C) High Transfer Text Protocol
D) Hyperlink Transfer Protocol
View AnswerA
11. Which of the following is a web browser?
A) Microsoft Word
B) Google Chrome
C) Adobe Photoshop
D) Microsoft Excel
View AnswerB
12. What is the purpose of a firewall?
A) To protect against malware
B) To manage network traffic
C) To block unauthorized access
D) All of the above
View AnswerD
13. What does the acronym ‘URL’ stand for?
A) Uniform Resource Locator
B) Uniform Resource Link
C) Universal Resource Locator
D) Uniform Resource Language
View AnswerA
14. What is the primary purpose of an operating system?
A) To connect to the internet
B) To manage computer hardware and software
C) To create documents
D) To edit images
View AnswerB
15. Which of the following is an output device?
A) Keyboard
B) Mouse
C) Monitor
D) Scanner
View AnswerC
16. What does SSD stand for?
A) Solid State Drive
B) Secure Storage Device
C) Super Speed Drive
D) Solid Storage Device
View AnswerA
17. What is the main function of a printer?
A) To input data
B) To process data
C) To output data
D) To store data
View AnswerC
18. Which of the following file extensions indicates a text file?
A) .doc
B) .txt
C) .jpg
D) .exe
View AnswerB
19. What does “cloud computing” refer to?
A) Computing on the ground
B) Storing and accessing data over the internet
C) Data storage in physical devices
D) None of the above
View AnswerB
20. Which protocol is used for sending emails?
A) HTTP
B) FTP
C) SMTP
D) DNS
View AnswerC
21. What is the function of the hard disk drive?
A) To provide temporary storage
B) To provide permanent storage
C) To manage hardware resources
D) To process data
View AnswerB
22. What is a browser’s cache?
A) A type of virus
B) A temporary storage location
C) A type of hard drive
D) A security feature
View AnswerB
23. Which of the following is a programming language?
A) HTML
B) CSS
C) Python
D) Both A and C
View AnswerC
24. What does the acronym ‘BIOS’ stand for?
A) Basic Input Output System
B) Binary Input Output System
C) Basic Integrated Operating System
D) Binary Integrated Output System
View AnswerA
25. Which of these is a type of network topology?
A) Star
B) Circle
C) Rectangle
D) Triangle
View AnswerA
26. What does ‘open source’ mean?
A) Software available for free
B) Software with publicly accessible source code
C) Software that is easy to modify
D) Both B and C
View AnswerD
27. Which device converts analog signals to digital signals?
A) Router
B) Modem
C) Switch
D) Hub
View AnswerB
28. What is a computer virus?
A) A hardware malfunction
B) A type of software that replicates itself
C) A security feature
D) A network configuration
View AnswerB
29. Which command is used to copy files in Windows?
A) move
B) copy
C) paste
D) delete
View AnswerB
30. What is the purpose of a spreadsheet application?
A) To write text documents
B) To organize data in rows and columns
C) To edit images
D) To create presentations
View AnswerB
31. What is the main advantage of using USB drives?
A) They are expensive
B) They are very large
C) They are portable and easy to use
D) They cannot store data
View AnswerC
32. Which of the following is NOT an operating system?
A) Windows
B) Linux
C) Microsoft Word
D) macOS
View AnswerC
33. What does the term ‘bandwidth’ refer to?
A) The speed of the internet connection
B) The amount of data that can be transmitted in a given time
C) The type of network connection
D) The storage capacity of a device
View AnswerB
34. What is phishing?
A) A type of malware
B) A method to steal personal information
C) A network protocol
D) A security feature
View AnswerB
35. Which of the following is a common file format for images?
A) .mp3
B) .jpg
C) .doc
D) .exe
View AnswerB
36. What is an algorithm?
A) A type of hardware
B) A set of instructions to solve a problem
C) A programming language
D) A computer virus
View AnswerB
37. What is the function of the ‘control unit’ in a CPU?
A) To perform arithmetic operations
B) To direct the operation of the processor
C) To store data temporarily
D) To manage input/output devices
View AnswerB
38. Which of the following is an example of a database management system?
A) Microsoft Excel
B) Microsoft Access
C) Adobe Photoshop
D) Microsoft Word
View AnswerB
39. What does ‘Wi-Fi’ stand for?
A) Wireless Fidelity
B) Wired Fidelity
C) Wireless Frequency
D) Wired Frequency
View AnswerA
40. What is ‘RAM’ used for in a computer?
A) Permanent storage
B) Temporary storage for data in use
C) Executing programs
D) Networking
View AnswerB
41. Which of the following is a characteristic of a solid-state drive (SSD)?
A) It has moving parts
B) It is faster than a traditional hard drive
C) It is less expensive than a hard drive
D) It is larger than a hard drive
View AnswerB
42. What is the purpose of an antivirus program?
A) To manage hardware
B) To protect against malware and viruses
C) To optimize system performance
D) To edit documents
View AnswerB
43. What is ‘phishing’?
A) A form of online fishing
B) An attempt to obtain sensitive information
C) A type of computer virus
D) A network protocol
View AnswerB
44. Which file extension is commonly associated with audio files?
A) .mp3
B) .doc
C) .jpg
D) .exe
View AnswerA
45. What does the acronym ‘PDF’ stand for?
A) Portable Document Format
B) Personal Document Format
C) Professional Document Format
D) Public Document Format
View AnswerA
46. Which device is used to input data into a computer?
A) Monitor
B) Keyboard
C) Printer
D) Projector
View AnswerB
47. What does ‘ASCII’ stand for?
A) American Standard Code for Information Interchange
B) American Standard Code for Internet Interchange
C) Advanced Standard Code for Information Interchange
D) American Standard Code for Internal Interchange
View AnswerA
48. Which of the following is an example of a cloud storage service?
A) Google Drive
B) Microsoft Word
C) Adobe Illustrator
D) VLC Media Player
View AnswerA
49. What does the term ‘encryption’ refer to?
A) Converting data into a readable format
B) Securing data by converting it into a code
C) Compressing data to save space
D) None of the above
View AnswerB
50. Which of the following is a common web development language?
A) C++
B) HTML
C) Java
D) All of the above
View AnswerB
51. What is the primary use of a modem?
A) To connect a computer to a printer
B) To connect a computer to the internet
C) To enhance video quality
D) To store data
View AnswerB
52. Which of the following best describes ‘open-source software’?
A) Software that is free to use and modify
B) Software that is expensive and proprietary
C) Software with limited access to code
D) Software that requires a subscription
View AnswerA
53. What is a ‘cookie’ in web browsing?
A) A type of virus
B) A small piece of data stored on the user’s computer
C) A program that blocks ads
D) A security feature
View AnswerB
54. What does the term ‘malware’ encompass?
A) All malicious software
B) Only viruses
C) Only spyware
D) Only adware
View AnswerA
55. What is the primary purpose of a network switch?
A) To connect multiple devices on a network
B) To connect to the internet
C) To filter unwanted traffic
D) To store data
View AnswerA
56. Which of the following is a common format for video files?
A) .mp3
B) .mp4
C) .jpg
D) .txt
View AnswerB
57. What does the acronym ‘VPN’ stand for?
A) Virtual Private Network
B) Visual Personal Network
C) Virtual Public Network
D) Visual Private Network
View AnswerA
58. What is the function of a graphics card?
A) To manage internet connections
B) To process and render images
C) To store files
D) To manage audio output
View AnswerB
59. Which of the following is an example of system software?
A) Microsoft Word
B) Windows OS
C) Adobe Photoshop
D) Google Chrome
View AnswerB
60. What does the term ‘backup’ refer to?
A) Saving data to a different location
B) Deleting unnecessary files
C) Compressing files
D) None of the above
View AnswerA
61. What is the primary purpose of a search engine?
A) To store data
B) To search the internet for information
C) To create websites
D) To download files
View AnswerB
62. Which of the following is NOT a programming paradigm?
A) Object-oriented programming
B) Functional programming
C) Procedural programming
D) Spreadsheet programming
View AnswerD
63. What is the purpose of a computer’s power supply?
A) To convert electrical power
B) To store data
C) To process information
D) To manage peripherals
View AnswerA
64. What does the acronym ‘GUI’ stand for in computing?
A) General User Interface
B) Graphical User Interface
C) Graphical Unified Interface
D) General Unified Interface
View AnswerB
65. What is a ‘byte’?
A) A type of software
B) A unit of data storage
C) A type of hardware
D) None of the above
View AnswerB
66. Which of the following is an example of secondary storage?
A) RAM
B) Cache memory
C) Hard drive
D) CPU
View AnswerC
67. What is the purpose of the ‘task manager’ in Windows?
A) To manage system resources
B) To edit files
C) To connect to the internet
D) To install software
View AnswerA
68. What does the term ‘defragmentation’ refer to?
A) Organizing files on a hard drive
B) Compressing files
C) Backing up data
D) Deleting unnecessary files
View AnswerA
69. Which of the following is a popular programming language for web development?
A) Python
B) Ruby
C) JavaScript
D) All of the above
View AnswerD
70. What is a ‘server’ in computing?
A) A device that processes user requests
B) A type of software
C) A personal computer
D) An input device
View AnswerA
71. Which of the following is a common application of Artificial Intelligence?
A) Word processing
B) Image editing
C) Voice recognition
D) Video playback
View AnswerC
72. What is ‘encryption’ used for?
A) To enhance performance
B) To secure data by converting it to a coded format
C) To compress files
D) To delete files
View AnswerB
73. Which of the following is a common unit of measurement for data storage?
A) Byte
B) Megabyte
C) Gigabyte
D) All of the above
View AnswerD
74. What does the acronym ‘SSD’ stand for?
A) Solid State Drive
B) Secure Storage Drive
C) Solid Storage Device
D) Semi Storage Drive
View AnswerA
75. Which of the following is a digital communication protocol?
A) FTP
B) SMTP
C) HTTP
D) All of the above
View AnswerD
76. What is a ‘bandwidth cap’?
A) A limit on data transfer speed
B) A limit on the amount of data transferred
C) A type of internet connection
D) A type of software
View AnswerB
77. Which of the following is a characteristic of a LAN (Local Area Network)?
A) It covers a large geographical area
B) It connects devices within a small area
C) It is always wireless
D) It is only used in businesses
View AnswerB
78. What does the term ‘open source’ imply about software?
A) It is available for free
B) The source code is publicly accessible
C) It can be modified by anyone
D) All of the above
View AnswerD
79. Which of the following is used to store and manage large amounts of data?
A) RAM
B) SSD
C) Database management system
D) CPU
View AnswerC
80. What is the purpose of a domain name?
A) To identify a computer on a network
B) To locate a website on the internet
C) To store data
D) To enhance internet speed
View AnswerB
81. What is a phishing attack?
A) A method to collect data
B) A technique used to bypass firewalls
C) A fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information
D) None of the above
View AnswerC
82. What does ‘HTTP’ stand for?
A) Hypertext Transfer Protocol
B) High Transfer Text Protocol
C) Hyperlink Transfer Protocol
D) Hypertext Transmission Protocol
View AnswerA
83. Which of the following is a benefit of using cloud storage?
A) Requires physical hardware
B) Limited access
C) Scalability and accessibility from anywhere
D) Higher costs
View AnswerC
84. What is the primary purpose of a router?
A) To connect devices to the internet
B) To store data
C) To enhance video quality
D) To edit documents
View AnswerA
85. What does the acronym ‘LAN’ stand for?
A) Large Area Network
B) Local Area Network
C) Limited Area Network
D) Low Area Network
View AnswerB
86. What is the purpose of an email client?
A) To send and receive emails
B) To create presentations
C) To edit images
D) To browse the internet
View AnswerA
87. What does the term ‘malware’ include?
A) Viruses
B) Trojans
C) Spyware
D) All of the above
View AnswerD
88. What does the term ‘plug and play’ refer to?
A) Software installation
B) Automatic recognition of hardware devices
C) Data transfer speed
D) None of the above
View AnswerB
89. Which of the following is a benefit of using antivirus software?
A) It slows down the computer
B) It helps protect against malware
C) It requires no updates
D) It is unnecessary
View AnswerB
90. What is the primary function of a firewall?
A) To prevent unauthorized access to a network
B) To improve internet speed
C) To manage hardware resources
D) To store files
View AnswerA
91. Which of the following is a characteristic of volatile memory?
A) It retains data without power
B) It loses data when power is off
C) It is used for permanent storage
D) None of the above
View AnswerB
92. What does the acronym ‘ISP’ stand for?
A) Internet Service Provider
B) Internal Security Protocol
C) Internet Security Program
D) Internal Service Provider
View AnswerA
93. Which of the following is a popular operating system for mobile devices?
A) Windows
B) Linux
C) Android
D) macOS
View AnswerC
94. What is the primary purpose of a VPN?
A) To increase internet speed
B) To create a secure connection over the internet
C) To store data
D) To connect to a printer
View AnswerB
95. What does the acronym ‘SQL’ stand for?
A) Standard Query Language
B) Structured Query Language
C) Secure Query Language
D) Standard Quick Language
View AnswerB
96. What is the function of a database?
A) To store and manage data
B) To create documents
C) To process images
D) To enhance audio
View AnswerA
97. What does the term ‘data mining’ refer to?
A) Extracting useful information from large datasets
B) Storing data securely
C) Deleting unnecessary data
D) Compressing files
View AnswerA
98. Which of the following is NOT a type of database?
A) Relational database
B) Hierarchical database
C) Flat file database
D) Text database
View AnswerD
99. What is the purpose of a backup?
A) To increase system performance
B) To create copies of data for recovery
C) To enhance internet speed
D) To delete old files
View AnswerB
100. What does the term ‘open source’ mean?
A) Free to use and modify
B) Software that is expensive
C) Software that cannot be shared
D) Software that is outdated
View AnswerA
101. Which file extension is typically associated with Microsoft Word documents?
A) .pdf
B) .docx
C) .jpg
D) .html
View AnswerB
102. What is the primary purpose of an antivirus program?
A) To enhance system speed
B) To protect against malware and viruses
C) To manage hardware resources
D) To create backups
View AnswerB
103. Which component is considered the “brain” of the computer?
A) Hard Drive
B) RAM
C) CPU
D) Motherboard
View AnswerC
104. What does a web browser do?
A) Creates web pages
B) Connects to the internet
C) Displays web content
D) Manages files on a computer
View AnswerC
105. Which of the following is an example of cloud storage?
A) Hard Drive
B) USB Flash Drive
C) Google Drive
D) CD-ROM
View AnswerC
106. What does the term ‘byte’ refer to?
A) A unit of processing speed
B) A unit of data storage (8 bits)
C) A type of software
D) A kind of computer virus
View AnswerB
107. Which of the following is a common operating system?
A) Microsoft Word
B) Adobe Photoshop
C) Windows
D) Google Chrome
View AnswerC
108. What is phishing?
A) A method of data recovery
B) A type of network configuration
C) A fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information
D) A hardware malfunction
View AnswerC
109. What is a URL?
A) A programming language
B) A type of computer virus
C) A uniform resource locator, or web address
D) A user request log
View AnswerC
110. Which of the following is NOT a type of software?
A) Operating System
B) Application Software
C) Hardware
D) Utility Software
View AnswerC
111. What is the function of a firewall?
A) To enhance graphics performance
B) To block unauthorized access to a network
C) To increase internet speed
D) To store data securely
View AnswerB
112. Which programming language is primarily used for web development?
A) Python
B) Java
C) HTML
D) C++
View AnswerC
113. What does GUI stand for?
A) Graphical User Interface
B) General User Interface
C) Guided User Installation
D) Graphical User Integration
View AnswerA
114. What is the main purpose of a hard drive?
A) To process data
B) To temporarily store data
C) To permanently store data
D) To manage power supply
View AnswerC
115. Which of the following refers to a computer’s volatile memory?
A) Hard Drive
B) SSD
C) RAM
D) Flash Drive
View AnswerC
116. What is the purpose of a device driver?
A) To enhance graphical performance
B) To enable communication between the operating system and hardware
C) To increase internet speed
D) To manage file storage
View AnswerB
117. What is the function of a CPU cache?
A) To permanently store data
B) To speed up access to frequently used data
C) To connect peripherals
D) To process graphical data
View AnswerB
118. Which of the following is a common input/output port on a computer?
A) USB
B) SSD
C) RAM
D) BIOS
View AnswerA
119. What does the acronym BIOS stand for?
A) Basic Integrated Operating System
B) Basic Input/Output System
C) Binary Input/Output System
D) Base Internal Operating System
View AnswerB
120. In computing, what does ‘booting’ refer to?
A) Installing new software
B) Starting up a computer
C) Closing applications
D) Connecting to a network
View AnswerB
121. Which of the following is a common web server software?
A) Microsoft Office
B) Apache
C) Adobe Reader
D) VLC Media Player
View AnswerB
122. What is the primary purpose of an operating system?
A) To provide a user interface and manage hardware resources
B) To enhance graphics performance
C) To compile programming code
D) To store large amounts of data
View AnswerA
123. What does ‘HTTP’ stand for?
A) HyperText Transfer Protocol
B) HyperText Transmission Protocol
C) High Transfer Text Protocol
D) HyperText Transport Protocol
View AnswerA
124. Which of the following is a type of malware?
A) Operating System
B) Spyware
C) Web Browser
D) Spreadsheet
View AnswerB
125. What is a spreadsheet program primarily used for?
A) Writing documents
B) Managing databases
C) Performing calculations and data analysis
D) Designing graphics
View AnswerC
126. Which of the following storage devices is the fastest?
A) Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
B) Solid State Drive (SSD)
C) USB Flash Drive
D) CD-ROM
View AnswerB