Computer science studies the theories behind computation and information technology. It also includes practical methods of applying these theories. Computer scientists create the complex systems and programs that are used by the general public. These are fashioned using algorithmic systems.
Computer science is a very large field with many sub categories. Some of the most common categories are human - computer interaction, which concentrates on making the computations accessible and understandable to humans. Programming language theory describes computations, while computer programming uses these programming languages to solve issues related to computing.
The term computer science was first used in 1961. This science is known to have a much closer association to mathematics than most other sciences. The topics that fall under the umbrella of computer science can be put into four main categories. They are: computer elements and architecture, theory of computation, programming methodology and languages and algorithms and data structures.
Computer elements and architecture study the design and structure of computer systems. It involves electrical and hardware engineering and concentrates on the functioning of the central processing unit. The theory of computation examines what can be computed and with what resources. Models and theories of computation help examine these aspects.
Programming methodology and languages deal with the implementation, design, analysis, classification and characterization of the languages used to create programs. Algorithms and data structures include subjects like analysis of algorithms, computational geometry, structures of data and algorithms.
Software engineering and computer science are fields that complement each other. The former studies and deals with everything to do with the precise computations that are designed to accomplish a practical goal. Computer science on the other hand examines computation and its properties in general. | 
