What does the term output refer to in computing?

• A. The parts used by the computer to store information
• B. The way the computer sends information to you
• C. The instructions that tell the computer what to do
• D. The physical components of a computer

Answer: (B)

Output is the information a computer produces after it has processed input. It’s what you actually receive or see, such as what appears on the screen, printed pages, sounds from speakers, or data sent to another device. This makes sense here because it describes how the computer conveys results to you or to other systems.

The other ideas describe different parts of a computer: storing information (memory and storage), giving the computer instructions to follow (software or programs), and the physical pieces you can touch (hardware). Those aren’t what “output” refers to—the term specifically means the results the computer outputs after processing.