Thevon Neumann architecturedescribes a general framework, or structure, that a computer's hardware, programming, and data should follow. Although other structures for computing have been devised and implemented, the vast majority of computers in use today operate according to the von Neumann architecture.

von Neumann envisioned the structure of a computer system as being composed of the following components:

ALU:TheArithmetic-Logic unitthat performs the computer's computational and logical functions.

RAM:Memory; more specifically, the computer's main, or fast, memory, also known asRandom Access Memory(RAM).

Control Unit: This is a component that directs other components of the computer to perform certain actions, such as directing the fetching of data or instructions from memory to be processed by the ALU; and

Man-machine interfaces;i.e. input and output devices, such as keyboard for input and display monitor for output.

example of computer architecture base on the von Neumann architecture is the desktoppersonal computer.