Computer science

Computer science (abbreviated CS or compsci) encompasses a variety of topics that relates to computation, like abstract analysis of algorithms, formal grammars, and subjects such as programming languages, program design, software, computer hardware, artificial intelligence, and numerical analysis. By definition, computer science is the accumulated knowledge through scientific methodology by computation or by the use of the computer.

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Abbreviated - Algorithms - Formal grammar - Programming language - Program - Software - Computer hardware - Artificial intelligence - Numerical analysis - Computer science

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Computer scientists study what programs can and cannot do (see computability), how programs can efficiently perform specific tasks (see algorithms and complexity), how programs should store and retrieve specific kinds of information (see data structures and databases), how programs might behave intelligently (see artificial intelligence), and how programs and people should communicate with each other (see human-computer interaction and user interfaces).

Related Topics:
Computability - Algorithms - Complexity - Information - Data structures - Database - Artificial intelligence - Human-computer interaction - User interface

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Most research in computer science has focused on von Neumann computers or Turing machines (computation models that perform one small, deterministic step at a time). These models resemble, at a basic level, most real computers in use today. Computer scientists also study other models of computation, which includes parallel machines and theoretical models such as probabilistic, oracle, and quantum computers.

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Von Neumann computer - Turing machine - Parallel - Probabilistic - Oracle - Quantum computer

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Edsger Dijkstra said:

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Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.

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Astronomy - Telescope

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The renowned physicist Richard Feynman said:

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Physicist - Richard Feynman

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Computer science is not as old as physics; it lags by a couple of hundred years. However, this does not mean that there is significantly less on the computer scientist's plate than on the physicist's: younger it may be, but it has had a far more intense upbringing!

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Computer science has roots in electrical engineering, logic, mathematics, and linguistics. In the last third of the 20th century computer science emerged as a distinct discipline and developed its own methods and terminology. Originally, CS was taught as part of mathematics or engineering departments, for instance at the University of Cambridge in England and at the Gdansk University of Technology in Poland, respectively. Cambridge claims to have the world's oldest taught qualification in computing. The first computer science department in the United States was founded at Purdue University in 1962, while the first college entirely devoted to computer science was founded at Northeastern University in 1982. Most universities today have specific departments devoted to computer science, while some conjoin it with engineering, with applied mathematics, or other disciplines.

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Electrical engineering - Logic - Mathematics - Linguistics - 20th century - University of Cambridge - England - Gdansk University of Technology - Poland - United States - Purdue University - 1962 - Northeastern University - 1982

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