---
title: "Define computer architecture"
subject: "Computer Organization and Architecture"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_5/computer_organization_and_architecture:define-arch"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/computer_organization_and_architecture/define-arch
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Define computer architecture

Computer Organization and Architecture · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2075 Chaitra, 2 marks
- Video: [Intro to Computer Architecture](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEjPop-aK_w) — KarBytes CS
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/computer_organization_and_architecture/define-arch
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/computer_organization_and_architecture/chapter-1

## Question

Define computer architecture.

## Short answer

Computer architecture is the set of programmer-visible attributes affecting program logic, including the instruction set, data types, addressing modes, registers, data representation bits, and I/O mechanism.

## Answer

Computer architecture is the set of attributes of a computer that are visible to a programmer and that have a direct effect on the logical execution of a program. It includes the instruction set, data types, addressing modes, registers, number of bits used for data representation and the I/O mechanism.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Computer architecture is the set of attributes
   A. Of hardware hidden from the programmer
   B. Of the memory technology
   C. Visible to the programmer that directly affect the logical execution of a program
   D. Of the control signals only
   Answer: C. Architecture is the programmer's view. (Key point: Definition)

2. Which is part of computer architecture?
   A. Addressing modes
   B. Cache technology
   C. Bus arbitration hardware
   D. Physical memory chips
   Answer: A. Instruction set, data types and addressing modes are included. (Key point: Example attribute)

3. Which is organization rather than architecture?
   A. Instruction set
   B. I/O mechanism
   C. Bus design and memory technology
   D. Number of bits for data
   Answer: C. Organization is hardware implementation. (Key point: Organization example)

## Related in Computer Organization and Architecture

- [Computer architecture vs organization](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_organization_and_architecture%3Aarch-vs-org) — Computer Organization and Architecture, chapter 1, asked 5×
- [Interconnection structure of computer](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_organization_and_architecture%3Ainterconnection-structure) — Computer Organization and Architecture, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Computer functions and cycles](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_organization_and_architecture%3Acomputer-functions-cycles) — Computer Organization and Architecture, chapter 1
- [Functional view and operations of a computer](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_organization_and_architecture%3Afunctional-view) — Computer Organization and Architecture, chapter 1
- [Bus structure of a typical computer](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_organization_and_architecture%3Abus-structure) — Computer Organization and Architecture, chapter 1

## Related in other subjects

- [Features of client/server architecture](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fcomputer_networks_and_security%3Aclient-server-features) — Computer Networks and Security, chapter 1
- [Meaning of network architecture](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fcomputer_networks_and_security%3Anetwork-architecture-meaning) — Computer Networks and Security, chapter 1
- [ISDN and its architecture](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fcomputer_networks_and_security%3Aisdn-architecture) — Computer Networks and Security, chapter 2