Which component is responsible for executing instructions in a computer?

• A. Graphics Card
• B. Central Processing Unit
• C. Hard Drive
• D. Random Access Memory

Answer: (B)

How a computer runs programs hinges on what the processor does. The CPU is the part that executes instructions. It fetches each instruction from memory, decodes what the instruction means, and then performs the required operation, whether that's doing a calculation, moving data, or making a decision. This fetch–decode–execute cycle is the core action that drives any program.

Other components play different roles. The graphics card handles rendering images and video, not general instruction execution. The hard drive stores data and programs on long-term storage but doesn’t run them. RAM provides fast, temporary storage for data and instructions the CPU is currently using, but the actual execution happens in the CPU.