What does the control unit in a computer do?

The control unit in a computer plays a crucial role in managing and coordinating the activities of the processor. It is responsible for directing the operation of the processor by interpreting instructions from the computer's memory and executing them sequentially. This involves signaling other components of the computer to perform their designated tasks, such as fetching data from memory, performing calculations, or sending data to output devices.

By overseeing and controlling the flow of data within the computer, the control unit ensures that all parts of the system work together harmoniously to execute programs efficiently. This central role highlights why directing the operation of the processor is fundamental to the computer’s overall function.

The other options describe important functions related to computing but do not reflect the specific duties of the control unit. For instance, storing data and programs is primarily the role of memory components like RAM or hard drives, processing graphical output typically falls to the graphics processing unit (GPU), and receiving input from devices involves various input ports and devices, which are managed by the computer’s input/output systems.