Editing Computing (section)

{{Short description|Activity involving calculations or computing machinery}}
{{About|the activity involving computing machinery|the magazines|Computing (magazine)|and|Compute!}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
[[File:GalvesLocherbach_-_Low_resolution.gif|thumb|right|alt=Computer simulation|[[Data visualization]] and [[computer simulation]] are important computing applications. This is a [[3D visualization]] of a [[Neural network (biology)|neural network]] simulation.]]

'''Computing''' is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating [[computer|computing machinery]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Computing Classification System |url=https://dl.acm.org/ccs |website=Digital Library |publisher=Association for Computing Machinery}}</ref> It includes the study and experimentation of [[algorithm]]ic processes, and the development of both [[computer hardware|hardware]] and software. Computing has scientific, engineering, mathematical, technological, and social aspects. Major computing disciplines include [[computer engineering]], [[computer science]], [[cybersecurity]], [[data science]], [[information systems]], [[information technology]], and [[software engineering]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 January 2020 |title=Computing Careers & Disciplines: A Quick Guide for Prospective Students and Career Advisors (2nd edition, ©2020) |url=https://ceric.ca/wpdm-package/computing-careers-disciplines-a-quick-guide-for-prospective-students-and-career-advisors/ |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=CERIC |language=en-US}}</ref>

The term ''computing'' is also [[synonymous]] with [[counting]] and [[calculation|calculating]]. In earlier times, it was used in reference to the action performed by [[Mechanical computer|mechanical computing machines]], and before that, to [[Computer (occupation)|human computers]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The History of Computing|url=http://mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/computer-hist-web.htm|access-date=12 April 2019|website=mason.gmu.edu}}</ref>

[[File:ENIAC-changing_a_tube.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Early vacuum tube Turing complete computer|ENIAC, the first programmable general-purpose electronic digital computer]]