This practical and informative publication has been designed for students on introductory computer architecture courses as part of a computer science related degree. Different institutions take a different view of what range of hardware or architectural issues should be covered in the first year of a degree course, but it is a topic area included in most courses. These courses and modules have a variety of titles including: Computer Architecture, Computer Systems, Computer Platforms and Computing Machines. The book is a clear and concise introduction to the subject, and will help students get to grips with difficult concepts, and understand how they are likely to be assessed. Key features include: learning outcomes for each chapter, explanations of key concepts, advice on exams and assessments, tips on common mistakes and how to avoid them.