Computer general knowledge MCQs

This comprehensive set of Computer General Knowledge MCQs is designed to cover all essential topics required for success in exams related to computer science and information technology. Focused on key subjects such as computer hardware, software, networking, programming languages, and historical developments in computing, these MCQs are crafted to help students build a strong foundation in computer-related knowledge.

Who should practice Computer General Knowledge MCQs?

Students preparing for computer science, information technology, or related courses that include fundamental computer concepts.
Individuals aiming to strengthen their understanding of basic computer components, software applications, and operating systems.
Candidates preparing for competitive exams or certifications that assess general computer knowledge and awareness.
Learners interested in mastering programming languages, networking concepts, and emerging technologies in computing.
Professionals focused on improving their skills in computer literacy, software usage, and technology trends.
Suitable for all aspirants seeking to enhance their knowledge and performance in general computer knowledge for academic or professional success.

1. What does CPU stand for?

A) Central Processing Unit
B) Computer Personal Unit
C) Central Program Unit
D) Computer Processing Unit

View Answer

2. Which of the following is an input device?

A) Monitor
B) Keyboard
C) Printer
D) Speaker

View Answer

3. What does RAM stand for?

A) Read Access Memory
B) Random Access Memory
C) Run Access Memory
D) Read And Memory

View Answer

4. Which part of the computer is considered the brain?

A) Hard Drive
B) CPU
C) RAM
D) Motherboard

View Answer

5. What is the main function of an operating system?

A) To store files
B) To manage hardware and software resources
C) To provide internet access
D) To run applications

View Answer

6. Which of the following is a programming language?

A) HTML
B) HTTP
C) FTP
D) CSS

View Answer

7. What does the term ‘bandwidth’ refer to?

A) The number of users connected
B) The amount of data that can be transmitted in a given time
C) The speed of the processor
D) The size of the hard drive

View Answer

8. What is the function of a motherboard?

A) To store data
B) To connect all computer components
C) To process data
D) To display information

View Answer

9. What does the acronym “GUI” stand for?

A) Graphical User Interface
B) General User Interface
C) Graphical Universal Interface
D) Generalized User Interface

View Answer

10. Which of the following is NOT an operating system?

A) Windows
B) Linux
C) Microsoft Office
D) macOS

View Answer

11. What is the purpose of a firewall?

A) To manage network traffic
B) To protect the computer from unauthorized access
C) To speed up internet connection
D) To store data

View Answer

12. What does ‘URL’ stand for?

A) Uniform Resource Locator
B) Universal Resource Link
C) Unique Resource Locator
D) Unified Resource Link

View Answer

13. Which file extension is commonly associated with Microsoft Word documents?

A) .xls
B) .ppt
C) .doc
D) .txt

View Answer

14. What is phishing?

A) A method of data recovery
B) A technique used to deceive individuals into revealing personal information
C) A type of computer virus
D) A method for optimizing performance

View Answer

15. Which device is used to output sound from a computer?

A) Monitor
B) Keyboard
C) Speaker
D) Mouse

View Answer

16. What does ‘SSD’ stand for?

A) Solid State Drive
B) Super Speed Drive
C) Static Storage Device
D) Solid Storage Device

View Answer

17. Which of the following is a search engine?

A) Microsoft Word
B) Google
C) Adobe Reader
D) Photoshop

View Answer

18. What is the primary purpose of an antivirus program?

A) To enhance internet speed
B) To manage files
C) To protect against malware and viruses
D) To optimize the hard drive

View Answer

19. Which component of a computer is responsible for displaying visuals?

A) CPU
B) GPU
C) RAM
D) Hard Drive

View Answer

20. What does ‘IoT’ stand for?

A) Internet of Technology
B) Internet of Things
C) International Open Technology
D) Internet on Transmission

View Answer

21. Which of the following is a web browser?

A) Google Drive
B) Mozilla Firefox
C) Microsoft Excel
D) Adobe Photoshop

View Answer

22. What is the function of an operating system?

A) To execute commands
B) To manage computer hardware and software resources
C) To provide internet connectivity
D) To store user data

View Answer

23. What does ‘backup’ refer to?

A) The process of copying data for safekeeping
B) The process of deleting unnecessary files
C) The process of optimizing computer performance
D) The process of installing new software

View Answer

24. Which of the following is a type of malware?

A) Anti-virus
B) Spyware
C) Firewall
D) VPN

View Answer

25. What is the purpose of a web server?

A) To create web applications
B) To store and serve web pages to users
C) To manage databases
D) To run email services

View Answer

26. What is the function of a router?

A) To manage data storage
B) To connect multiple networks and direct data traffic
C) To process data
D) To display information

View Answer

27. Which of the following file types is commonly used for images?

A) .txt
B) .jpg
C) .exe
D) .doc

View Answer

28. What does ‘encryption’ do?

A) Increases file size
B) Converts data into a secure format
C) Speeds up processing time
D) Deletes unnecessary files

View Answer

29. Which of the following is a cloud storage service?

A) Microsoft Excel
B) Google Drive
C) Adobe Photoshop
D) Notepad

View Answer

30. What is the purpose of a command prompt?

A) To execute commands and run scripts
B) To display graphics
C) To manage files
D) To create presentations

View Answer

31. What is the main role of a software developer?

A) To design hardware
B) To create and maintain software applications
C) To troubleshoot network issues
D) To manage user accounts

View Answer

32. Which of the following is a common office application?

A) Photoshop
B) Microsoft Word
C) AutoCAD
D) Visual Studio

View Answer

33. What does ‘HTTP’ stand for?

A) HyperText Transfer Protocol
B) High Transfer Text Protocol
C) HyperText Transaction Protocol
D) Hyper Transfer Text Protocol

View Answer

34. Which device is primarily used to input data into a computer?

A) Monitor
B) Printer
C) Mouse
D) Speaker

View Answer

35. What is the primary purpose of a spreadsheet program?

A) To edit photos
B) To manage and analyze data in tabular form
C) To create presentations
D) To design websites

View Answer

36. Which of the following is a cloud computing model?

A) IaaS
B) WaaS
C) FaaS
D) PaaS

View Answer

37. What does ‘ASCII’ stand for?

A) American Standard Code for Information Interchange
B) Automatic Standard Code for Information Interchange
C) Advanced Standard Code for Information Integration
D) American Standard Code for Internet Interaction

View Answer

38. What is a file extension?

A) A label that indicates the type of file
B) A measure of file size
C) A feature for encrypting files
D) A method for organizing files

View Answer

39. What does the ‘Ctrl + Z’ keyboard shortcut do?

A) Saves a document
B) Opens a new window
C) Undoes the last action
D) Redoes the last action

View Answer

40. Which of the following is an example of a database management system?

A) Microsoft Word
B) Oracle
C) Adobe Photoshop
D) Microsoft Excel

View Answer

41. What is a motherboard?

A) The main printed circuit board in a computer
B) A type of software application
C) A storage device
D) An input device

View Answer

42. What does ‘VPN’ stand for?

A) Virtual Private Network
B) Virtual Public Network
C) Verified Private Network
D) Virtual Protected Network

View Answer

43. What is the purpose of system updates?

A) To increase internet speed
B) To improve security and add new features
C) To delete unnecessary files
D) To manage data storage

View Answer

44. Which of the following is NOT a type of software?

A) Application software
B) System software
C) Network software
D) Hardware software

View Answer

45. What is a URL used for?

A) To connect to a printer
B) To provide the address of a web page
C) To store data
D) To send emails

View Answer

46. Which of the following is a component of a computer’s hardware?

A) Word Processor
B) Antivirus
C) Hard Disk Drive
D) Operating System

View Answer

47. What does ‘malware’ refer to?

A) Hardware that is not functioning
B) Software designed to harm or exploit any programmable device
C) A type of internet connection
D) A computer maintenance tool

View Answer

48. Which of the following is a benefit of using open-source software?

A) High cost
B) Limited access
C) Customizability and freedom to modify
D) Restricted licenses

View Answer

49. What is the primary use of a scanner?

A) To print documents
B) To digitize physical documents and images
C) To create spreadsheets
D) To manage files

View Answer

50. What does ‘HTML’ stand for?

A) HyperText Markup Language
B) HighText Markup Language
C) Hyper Transfer Markup Language
D) HyperText Multi Language

View Answer

51. Which of the following is a common file format for audio files?

A) .jpg
B) .mp3
C) .pdf
D) .exe

View Answer

52. What does ‘2FA’ stand for?

A) Two-Factor Authentication
B) Two-Fault Authorization
C) Two-File Access
D) Two-Fold Authentication

View Answer

53. Which of the following is a form of non-volatile storage?

A) RAM
B) SSD
C) Cache Memory
D) Registers

View Answer

54. What is the function of a graphics card?

A) To process and render images and videos
B) To manage network connections
C) To store data
D) To enhance audio quality

View Answer

55. What does ‘cache’ refer to in computing?

A) Temporary storage for quick data retrieval
B) A type of hard drive
C) A software application
D) A network protocol

View Answer

56. What is the primary function of a hard drive?

A) To execute commands
B) To store data permanently
C) To manage system resources
D) To provide a user interface

View Answer

57. Which of the following is a common type of computer network?

A) LAN
B) DOC
C) PSTN
D) WAN

View Answer

58. What does ‘open-source software’ mean?

A) Software that is free to use and modify
B) Software that is sold at a premium
C) Software that is only available to select users
D) Software that has limited features

View Answer

59. Which of the following is used to connect to the internet wirelessly?

A) Ethernet cable
B) Wi-Fi
C) USB
D) Serial port

View Answer

60. What is the purpose of a search engine?

A) To create websites
B) To find information on the internet
C) To manage email accounts
D) To host web applications

View Answer

61. What does ‘BIOS’ stand for?

A) Basic Input Output System
B) Basic Internal Operating System
C) Binary Input Output System
D) Basic Integrated Operating System

View Answer

62. Which of the following is an example of application software?

A) Windows
B) Linux
C) Microsoft Word
D) BIOS

View Answer

63. What does the term ‘malicious software’ refer to?

A) Software that improves system performance
B) Software that performs harmful actions on a computer
C) Software that is used for system updates
D) Software that manages hardware resources

View Answer

64. Which of the following is NOT an internet browser?

A) Chrome
B) Firefox
C) Safari
D) Word

View Answer

65. What is the purpose of a task manager?

A) To manage user accounts
B) To monitor and control running applications
C) To create backups
D) To install software

View Answer

66. Which of the following is a computer network security measure?

A) Updating software regularly
B) Ignoring suspicious emails
C) Sharing passwords
D) Using simple passwords

View Answer

67. What is the main use of the command line interface (CLI)?

A) To create graphical interfaces
B) To execute commands through text input
C) To manage files visually
D) To design web pages

View Answer

68. What is a computer virus?

A) A software that enhances performance
B) A program designed to replicate and spread to other computers
C) A security feature
D) A type of hardware

View Answer

69. Which of the following is a commonly used programming language?

A) HTML
B) FTP
C) SQL
D) Both A and C

View Answer

70. What is the main function of cloud computing?

A) To provide hardware storage
B) To offer on-demand computing resources over the internet
C) To enhance local storage capabilities
D) To create software applications

View Answer

71. What does ‘phishing’ refer to?

A) A method to enhance email security
B) An attempt to acquire sensitive information by masquerading as a trustworthy entity
C) A type of software
D) A method of data recovery

View Answer

72. Which of the following is an advantage of using a solid-state drive (SSD) over a hard disk drive (HDD)?

A) Larger storage capacity
B) Higher data transfer speed
C) Lower cost
D) More moving parts

View Answer

73. What does ‘FTP’ stand for?

A) File Transfer Protocol
B) Fast Transfer Protocol
C) File Transmission Protocol
D) Final Transfer Protocol

View Answer

74. Which of the following is a type of network topology?

A) Star
B) Line
C) Circle
D) Square

View Answer

75. What is the purpose of software patches?

A) To improve hardware performance
B) To fix vulnerabilities and bugs in software
C) To increase file size
D) To upgrade the operating system

View Answer

76. What is the primary function of a printer?

A) To display graphics
B) To produce hard copies of documents and images
C) To scan documents
D) To manage files

View Answer

77. What does ‘SQL’ stand for?

A) Structured Query Language
B) Simple Query Language
C) Standard Query Language
D) Syntax Query Language

View Answer

78. Which of the following is a type of software license?

A) Freeware
B) Shareware
C) Open-source
D) All of the above

View Answer

79. What is the primary purpose of a data center?

A) To store personal files
B) To house computer systems and associated components for data storage and processing
C) To provide internet access
D) To manage user accounts

View Answer

80. What is a computer network?

A) A collection of computers and devices interconnected by communications channels
B) A type of software application
C) A hardware component
D) A security feature

View Answer

81. Which of the following is used to store large amounts of data?

A) Cache
B) RAM
C) Hard Drive
D) CPU

View Answer

82. What does ‘spam’ refer to in the context of email?

A) Important notifications
B) Unsolicited and often irrelevant messages sent in bulk
C) Password recovery requests
D) System updates

View Answer

83. What is a file format?

A) The way data is organized in a file
B) The physical storage medium
C) The encryption method used
D) The amount of data a file can hold

View Answer

84. What does ‘malware’ encompass?

A) Only viruses
B) Only spyware
C) Any software designed to harm or exploit computers
D) Only ransomware

View Answer

85. Which of the following is a popular database software?

A) Microsoft Word
B) Microsoft Access
C) Adobe Illustrator
D) Google Chrome

View Answer

86. What does ‘SaaS’ stand for?

A) Software as a Service
B) System as a Software
C) Storage as a Service
D) Security as a Service

View Answer

87. Which of the following is a characteristic of cloud storage?

A) Accessible only from one device
B) Requires physical storage media
C) Data is stored on remote servers and accessible via the internet
D) Only for large organizations

View Answer

88. What is the purpose of a domain name?

A) To secure a website
B) To provide a user-friendly way to access a website
C) To store data
D) To manage email services

View Answer

89. What is the main function of an operating system’s kernel?

A) To manage the hardware and software of the computer
B) To create user interfaces
C) To process applications
D) To store files

View Answer

90. Which of the following is an advantage of using open-source software?

A) Limited access
B) High cost
C) Customizability and flexibility
D) Vendor lock-in

View Answer

91. What is the primary purpose of a VPN?

A) To enhance internet speed
B) To secure and encrypt internet connections
C) To manage network traffic
D) To store data remotely

View Answer

92. Which of the following is a type of computer hardware?

A) Operating System
B) CPU
C) Application Software
D) Database

View Answer

93. What does ‘data mining’ refer to?

A) The process of retrieving data from a database
B) The process of analyzing data to discover patterns and insights
C) The process of backing up data
D) The process of deleting unnecessary data

View Answer

94. Which of the following is NOT a type of programming paradigm?

A) Object-oriented programming
B) Procedural programming
C) Cloud programming
D) Functional programming

View Answer

95. What is the main function of a web browser?

A) To create software applications
B) To access and display web pages
C) To manage system resources
D) To store files

View Answer

96. What does ‘social engineering’ refer to in cybersecurity?

A) A method of improving system performance
B) A technique used to manipulate people into revealing confidential information
C) A type of software
D) A network protocol

View Answer

97. Which of the following is a component of cloud computing?

A) Virtual machines
B) Solid-state drives
C) Printers
D) Scanners

View Answer

98. What is the function of a network switch?

A) To connect multiple devices on a local area network (LAN)
B) To connect different networks
C) To manage data storage
D) To process video files

View Answer

99. What does ‘cryptography’ refer to?

A) The study of computer networks
B) The practice of securing communication through encoding
C) The design of computer hardware
D) The analysis of software performance

View Answer

100. What is the primary purpose of an email client?

A) To create spreadsheets
B) To manage and send emails
C) To design web pages
D) To execute commands

View Answer