State is a term used in computing to refer to a temporary situation that changes over time. It is used to describe both the hardware and software components of a computer system.
In hardware terms, state refers to the various digital signals sent to, from, and within a computer system. It can also refer to specific aspects of a device’s configuration, such as the current setting of a switch or the power settings of a hard drive.
In terms of software, state refers to the current condition of the program, which can be determined by the values stored in memory and the instructions processing them. It includes variables, flags, conditions and the overall program flow.
When a computer application is compiled, the compiler converts the source code into object code, which defines the conditions and instructions for the application’s execution. Each time the application is run, the memory stores this object code, as well as any input data given by the user. This combination of memory, instruction, and data makes up the software’s state.
State is also used to refer to network communication. When two devices interact over a network, the communication status between them is referred to as the state of the connection.
State is critical to the functioning of computers, since it describes the current state of both hardware and software at any given time. Without it, a computer system would not be able to operate properly.
