The first electronic digital computer contained electronic valves. Electronic valves are a type of vacuum tube that was used to amplify and switch electronic signals. They were the first electronic devices to be used in computers, and they were used in all early computers until they were replaced by transistors in the 1950s.
Vacuum tubes are made up of a glass envelope that contains a cathode, an anode, and a grid. The cathode is heated, which causes it to emit electrons. The electrons are then attracted to the anode, which is positively charged. The grid is placed between the cathode and the anode, and it can be used to control the flow of electrons.
Vacuum tubes were used in computers because they were able to amplify and switch electronic signals very quickly. This made them ideal for use in computers, which need to be able to process information very quickly. However, vacuum tubes are also very large and power-hungry. This made them difficult to use in small, portable computers.
Transistors were invented in the 1940s, and they quickly replaced vacuum tubes in computers. Transistors are much smaller and more power-efficient than vacuum tubes, and they can be used to perform the same functions. This made them ideal for use in small, portable computers.
Semiconductor memory is a type of memory that is used in computers. It is made up of semiconductor materials, such as silicon. Semiconductor memory is very fast and efficient, and it is used to store data and programs in computers.
In conclusion, the first electronic digital computer contained electronic valves. Electronic valves were a type of vacuum tube that was used to amplify and switch electronic signals. They were the first electronic devices to be used in computers, and they were used in all early computers until they were replaced by transistors in the 1950s.