Mainframe computer

A mainframe computer, informally called a mainframe or big iron, is a <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a> used primarily by large organizations for critical applications like bulk <a href="/facts/Data_processing/74EKCDAq">data processing</a> for tasks such as <a href="/facts/Census/dePeULsk">censuses</a>, industry and consumer <a href="/facts/Statistics/DNPsKGYU">statistics</a>, <a href="/facts/Enterprise_resource_planning/IHhjWH4z">enterprise resource planning</a>, and large-scale <a href="/facts/Transaction_processing/Q0WHeD9R">transaction processing</a>. A mainframe computer is large but not as large as a <a href="/facts/Supercomputer/HT9NwGAN">supercomputer</a> and has more processing power than some other classes of computers, such as <a href="/facts/Minicomputer/g8hvpQxe">minicomputers</a>, <a href="/facts/Server_(computing)/dEaYFD7r">servers</a>, <a href="/facts/Workstation/h5tK4hTt">workstations</a>, and <a href="/facts/Personal_computer/koaYfNce">personal computers</a>. Most large-scale computer-system architectures were established in the 1960s, but they continue to evolve. Mainframe computers are often used as servers.
The term mainframe was derived from the large cabinet, called a main frame, that housed the <a href="/facts/Central_processing_unit/Jxp1bqMV">central processing unit</a> and main <a href="/facts/Computer_memory/hQKVQ51J">memory</a> of early computers. Later, the term mainframe was used to distinguish high-end commercial computers from less powerful machines.

Mainframe computer open-in-new

Mainframe computer