How Computers Work

Get one of our best deals and build skills with 50% off Coursera Plus. Save now.

How Computers Work

This course is part of Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Specialization

Instructor: Prof Marco Gillies

42,036 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

582 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

582 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Web Applications

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

13 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

Computers are everywhere, they aren't just the desktops and laptops we use for work but the phones in our pockets and even the watches on our wrists are also computers. You probably use a computer every day and in fact you are reading this on a computer!

Just because we use computers all the time, doesn't mean that we understand them, or find them easy to use. Computer Science is the science of computers, it is the field of knowledge that experts use to understand computer systems. Knowing a little computer science will help you understand the computers all around you. This isn't a how-to course for a particular piece of software, instead you will learn some fundamental concepts that you can apply to any software or computer system. You'll apply these concepts to the kind of computer systems we use every day, including word processing applications, e-commerce, the internet and web sites. You will learn how to apply computer science concepts to solve problems in daily computer use and generally be a better computer user. Taking this course could be the start of your career in computer science, and the course is an introduction to the Bachelors in Computer Science from University of London, but it is also for you if you just want to learn a little computer science to help you better understand the computers you use in your ordinary life.

This week starts your journey into understanding computer science. You will think about how computer science can help you understand the technology you use every day and you will also learn one of the most important concepts in computer science: abstraction.

What's included

6 videos4 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 20 minutes

What is computer science and how can it help us2 minutes
Abstraction5 minutes
Abstraction in data representations4 minutes
Notional machines4 minutes
CPU and memory4 minutes
Summary1 minute

4 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Course structure and navigation5 minutes
Learn effectively on this course5 minutes
Further reading10 minutes
Assessment for this course10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Abstraction – summative 0130 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 45 minutes

Introduce yourself15 minutes
Notional machines30 minutes

In this week you will learn about the computer science concepts of state and modularity and how they can help you understand the computer applications that you use every day.

What's included

9 videos1 reading5 assignments3 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 38 minutes

The deep secret of computer science1 minute
State6 minutes
An e-commerce site4 minutes
Why does turning it off and on again work?4 minutes
A notional machine: files7 minutes
Modularity3 minutes
Applications6 minutes
Debugging7 minutes
Summary1 minute

1 readingTotal 20 minutes

Looking inside applications20 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 125 minutes

Notional machine for an application – summative 0230 minutes
Abstraction, state, modularity and application – summative 0320 minutes
Practice quiz – State30 minutes
Files15 minutes
Practice quiz – Debugging an application problem30 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

The deep secret of computer science10 minutes
States of software10 minutes
Notional machines10 minutes

This week you will learn about how computers communicate with each other over networks, including the internet. You will also learn about some of the security threats that the internet entails and how they can be avoided.

What's included

7 videos3 assignments1 discussion prompt

7 videosTotal 34 minutes

Networks4 minutes
The internet7 minutes
Security threats2 minutes
Encryption6 minutes
Security defences3 minutes
Interview: The perils of passwords10 minutes
Summary1 minute

3 assignmentsTotal 61 minutes

Networks – summative 0416 minutes
Case study: debugging a web load error – summative 0515 minutes
Security: what have you learned?30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Security risks10 minutes

In this week you will apply all of the computer science concepts you have learned in this course to understanding how modern websites work.

What's included

9 videos2 readings4 assignments2 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 25 minutes

What is a website?1 minute
Websites2 minutes
Networks and the web4 minutes
Security and the web3 minutes
State and the web3 minutes
Clients and servers4 minutes
Embedding and APIs3 minutes
Your data2 minutes
MOOC Summary3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

How does a website work?10 minutes
Further learning10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 100 minutes

How does a website work? – summative 0630 minutes
Websites – summative 0720 minutes
Motivating problem20 minutes
Practice quiz – Websites30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 40 minutes

Notional machine for a website30 minutes
Computer science10 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Prepare for a degree

Taking this course by University of London may provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors in a related degree program which can help you decide if the topic or university is right for you.

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(144 ratings)

Prof Marco Gillies

University of London

14 Courses580,829 learners

Offered by

University of London

Goldsmiths, University of London

Explore more from Computer Security and Networks

Status: Preview
Coursera
Digital Literacy: Introduction to Using Computers
Course
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Introduction to Computing Systems
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of London
Introduction to Computer Security
Course
Status: Preview
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad
Introduction to Computer Organization
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
73.24%
4 stars
19.21%
3 stars
4.28%
2 stars
1.54%
1 star
1.71%

Showing 3 of 582

Reviewed on Sep 2, 2024

Very beginner friendly, the AI tools that help students better understand the information allow for a more accessible and digestible course.

Reviewed on Sep 20, 2019

Very good course as an introduction to computing. Could stand to be more challenging, but the material is certainly easy enough for a true beginner.

Reviewed on May 25, 2021

This course has opened a whole new world and has been the start in a new journey to become a Computer Scientist.

View more reviews

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.