100+ Computer Trivia Questions and Answers to Test Your Tech Knowledge

Have you ever been stuck in a boring meeting or family gathering and wished you had something fun to break the ice? Well, I discovered computer trivia was the perfect solution last month when I hosted a tech meetup at my place. We ended up talking for hours, and even my dad (who still calls the internet “the Google”) got super into it!

Whether you’re a tech newbie or a coding wizard, these 100+ computer trivia questions will test your knowledge, spark conversations, and maybe teach you something new about the digital world we live in. I’ve personally tested these at gatherings, and they’re guaranteed to get people talking!

Computer trivia is perfect for so many situations – tech meetups, team-building activities, classroom learning, or just hanging out with friends who share your interest in technology. What I love about computer trivia is that it’s not just fun, it’s actually educational too!

Last week, my nephew learned about Steve Jobs while we were playing with these questions, and he couldn’t believe Apple started in a garage. These little nuggets of tech history help us appreciate how far we’ve come in such a short time.

Plus, computer trivia is one of those rare activities that can bridge the gap between generations. My mom might not know what RAM stands for, but she definitely remembers her first computer!

Ready to test your tech knowledge? Let’s dive in!

Computer History Trivia

The history of computers is filled with fascinating inventions, brilliant minds, and groundbreaking moments. From massive room-sized machines to the powerful devices in our pockets, the evolution of computers has been incredible. I’m always amazed at how quickly technology has advanced in just a few decades!

What was the name of the first electronic general-purpose computer? Answer: ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
In what year was the first Apple computer released? Answer: 1976
Who is considered the “father of the computer”? Answer: Charles Babbage
What was the name of the first computer programmer? Answer: Ada Lovelace
Which computer was advertised during the 1984 Super Bowl with a commercial directed by Ridley Scott? Answer: Apple Macintosh
What was the first computer mouse made of? Answer: Wood
In what year was the first email sent? Answer: 1971
Who coined the term “bug” to refer to computer glitches after finding an actual moth in a computer? Answer: Grace Hopper
What was the name of the chess-playing computer that defeated world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997? Answer: Deep Blue
What was the first commercially successful personal computer? Answer: Apple II
What year was Microsoft founded? Answer: 1975
What was the first portable computer? Answer: Osborne 1
When was the first iPhone released? Answer: 2007
What does IBM stand for? Answer: International Business Machines
What was the first computer virus released in the wild? Answer: Creeper
When was the World Wide Web invented? Answer: 1989
Who developed the first graphical web browser called Mosaic? Answer: Marc Andreessen
What was the first popular web search engine? Answer: Archie
What company developed the first commercially available computer mouse? Answer: Xerox
What was the name of the first programmable electronic computer in the UK? Answer: Colossus

If you’re fascinated by historical questions like these, you might also enjoy exploring philosophical questions about how technology has changed our lives!

Software and Operating Systems Trivia

From MS-DOS to the cloud-based systems we use today, software and operating systems have undergone incredible transformations. I remember installing Windows 95 from a stack of floppy disks – who would have thought we’d eventually be updating our OS wirelessly while on the go?

What was the first version of Windows released? Answer: Windows 1.0
Which operating system is based on the Linux kernel? Answer: Android
What does “OS” stand for in computing? Answer: Operating System
What year was the first version of macOS (originally called Mac OS X) released? Answer: 2001
Which company developed the programming language Java? Answer: Sun Microsystems
What was Microsoft’s first operating system called? Answer: MS-DOS
What is the name of the virtual assistant on Windows 10? Answer: Cortana
What animal is the mascot for the Linux operating system? Answer: Penguin (Tux)
What does “PDF” stand for? Answer: Portable Document Format
What was the first widely-used web browser? Answer: Netscape Navigator
What is the default web browser in macOS? Answer: Safari
What was the predecessor to Microsoft Excel? Answer: Multiplan
Which company created Photoshop? Answer: Adobe
What programming language was used to create the first version of Minecraft? Answer: Java
What year was Microsoft Office first released? Answer: 1990
What does “BIOS” stand for? Answer: Basic Input/Output System
What was the original name of Windows 10’s web browser before it was renamed Edge? Answer: Project Spartan
What does “GUI” stand for? Answer: Graphical User Interface
What was the first version of Android named after? Answer: Alpha (though the first commercial version was Cupcake)
What is the name of Apple’s desktop operating system? Answer: macOS (formerly OS X)

Looking for more brain teasers? Check out these math trivia questions to test your numerical knowledge!

Hardware and Components Trivia

The physical parts of our computers have their own fascinating stories. My first computer had a 40MB hard drive, and I thought that was enormous! Now I carry thousands of times more storage in my pocket. These hardware questions will test your knowledge of the physical side of computing.

What does “CPU” stand for? Answer: Central Processing Unit
What is the brain of the computer? Answer: CPU (Central Processing Unit)
What does “RAM” stand for? Answer: Random Access Memory
What is the main circuit board in a computer called? Answer: Motherboard
What unit is computer processor speed typically measured in? Answer: Hertz (Hz)
What does “HDD” stand for? Answer: Hard Disk Drive
What component stores data permanently even when power is off? Answer: Hard Drive or SSD
What does “GPU” stand for? Answer: Graphics Processing Unit
What device converts digital signals to analog for telephone lines? Answer: Modem
What is the main input device for a computer? Answer: Keyboard
What does “SSD” stand for? Answer: Solid State Drive
What is the name for a device that combines a printer, scanner, and sometimes fax into one machine? Answer: All-in-One or Multifunction Printer
What is the small battery on a motherboard called? Answer: CMOS battery
What does “LCD” stand for in display technology? Answer: Liquid Crystal Display
What is the unit of measurement for storage on computers? Answer: Byte
What does “HDMI” stand for? Answer: High-Definition Multimedia Interface
What color was the original IBM PC? Answer: Beige
What is the function of a heat sink in a computer? Answer: To dissipate heat from the CPU
What was the first commercial computer with a mouse and GUI? Answer: Apple Lisa
What does “USB” stand for? Answer: Universal Serial Bus

If you’re looking for fun topics to discuss with tech friends, check out these interesting topics to talk about for more inspiration!

Internet and Networking Trivia

From dial-up modems to gigabit fiber, the internet has transformed dramatically. I still remember the screeching sound of connecting to the internet and yelling at my sister to get off the phone so I could go online! These questions will test your knowledge of the networks that connect our digital world.

What does “HTTP” stand for? Answer: Hypertext Transfer Protocol
What does “URL” stand for? Answer: Uniform Resource Locator
What is the most common top-level domain on the internet? Answer: .com
What was the first social networking site to reach one million users? Answer: MySpace
What year was Google founded? Answer: 1998
What does “Wi-Fi” originally stand for? Answer: Nothing, it’s not an acronym (contrary to popular belief)
What was the original name of Twitter? Answer: Twttr
What does “ISP” stand for? Answer: Internet Service Provider
What is the main language used to create web pages? Answer: HTML
What does “DNS” stand for? Answer: Domain Name System
What was the first message sent over ARPANET (the precursor to the internet)? Answer: “LO” (attempting to type “LOGIN”)
What does “IoT” stand for? Answer: Internet of Things
What year was YouTube founded? Answer: 2005
What is an IP address? Answer: A numerical label assigned to devices on a network
What does “WWW” stand for? Answer: World Wide Web
What does “CSS” stand for in web development? Answer: Cascading Style Sheets
What was the first web browser? Answer: WorldWideWeb (later renamed Nexus)
What is the standard port number for HTTP? Answer: 80
What is the name of Amazon’s virtual assistant? Answer: Alexa
What does “VPN” stand for? Answer: Virtual Private Network

Want to impress your tech-savvy crush? Try these topics to talk about with your crush and mix in some computer trivia!

Programming and Coding Trivia

The languages that power our digital world have fascinating origins. My first programming experience was with BASIC on an old computer at school, and I was so proud when I made it print “Hello” ten times! These questions challenge your knowledge of programming languages and coding concepts.

What does “HTML” stand for? Answer: Hypertext Markup Language
What was the first high-level programming language? Answer: Fortran
Who created the programming language Python? Answer: Guido van Rossum
What does “API” stand for? Answer: Application Programming Interface
What programming language was originally developed at Bell Labs? Answer: C
What does “SQL” stand for? Answer: Structured Query Language
What symbol is used for single-line comments in many programming languages? Answer: // (double forward slash)
What programming language is known for its use in statistical computing and graphics? Answer: R
What is the standard file extension for a JavaScript file? Answer: .js
What does “IDE” stand for in programming? Answer: Integrated Development Environment
What’s the most commonly used programming language for iOS app development? Answer: Swift
What does “PHP” stand for? Answer: PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (recursively)
What does “CSS” stand for? Answer: Cascading Style Sheets
In coding, what does “OOP” stand for? Answer: Object-Oriented Programming
What language is primarily used for Android app development? Answer: Java/Kotlin
What was the first object-oriented programming language? Answer: Simula
What is the most common program beginners write first? Answer: Hello World
What is the process of finding and fixing bugs called? Answer: Debugging
What does “JSON” stand for? Answer: JavaScript Object Notation
What is the mascot of GitHub? Answer: Octocat

If you’re looking for more mind-expanding questions, take a look at these deep topics to talk about that blend well with tech discussions!

Tech Companies and Personalities Trivia

Behind every great tech innovation are fascinating companies and brilliant minds. My brother once met Steve Wozniak at a conference and said he was the most down-to-earth tech genius ever! These questions explore the people and organizations that shaped our digital landscape.

Who are the co-founders of Google? Answer: Larry Page and Sergey Brin
Who is the co-founder of Apple with Steve Jobs? Answer: Steve Wozniak
What was Amazon originally going to be called? Answer: Cadabra
Who is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX? Answer: Elon Musk
What was Facebook originally called? Answer: TheFacebook
Who is known as the richest person in modern technology? Answer: Varies over time, but often Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Bill Gates
What company owns Instagram? Answer: Meta (formerly Facebook)
Who was the CEO of Microsoft before Satya Nadella? Answer: Steve Ballmer
What company makes the iPhone? Answer: Apple
Who founded Oracle Corporation? Answer: Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates
What company owns YouTube? Answer: Google (Alphabet)
Who is known as the “Oracle of Omaha” and a major investor in Apple? Answer: Warren Buffett
What was Google’s original name? Answer: BackRub
Who created Linux? Answer: Linus Torvalds
What company makes the PlayStation? Answer: Sony
Who is the founder of Microsoft? Answer: Bill Gates and Paul Allen
What company owns Xbox? Answer: Microsoft
Who was Apple’s CEO before Tim Cook? Answer: Steve Jobs
Which company has the slogan “Don’t Be Evil”? Answer: Google (though they’ve since modified it)
What company owns Minecraft? Answer: Microsoft

For more fun questions to ask at your next tech gathering, check out these video game trivia questions to mix things up!

Final Thoughts

Wasn’t that a fun trip through computer history? I don’t know about you, but I always find it amazing how quickly technology has evolved. From room-sized computers to smartphones more powerful than the machines that sent astronauts to the moon – it’s incredible!

These trivia questions aren’t just fun facts – they represent the building blocks of our modern digital world. Next time you’re with friends, at a team-building event, or just looking to break the ice at a tech meetup, pull out a few of these questions and watch the conversations flow!

Did you know all the answers? Or did some of them surprise you? I’d love to know which questions you found most interesting!

If you enjoyed these computer trivia questions, you might also like our how well do you know me questions to test your friends’ knowledge of you instead of computers!