What is the difference between computer science and information technology?

CS vs. IT

Computer Science is the study of computers. You typically learn about hardware and operating systems. Things like registers, multitasking kernels, data buses, address buses. It's real techy stuff.

Information Technology is the more about the study of the use of computers to solve human/business problems. You study some programming, databases, applications, etc.

Here are more answers to the same question:

• Computer Science is the science of computers whilst Information Technology may or may not be use computers or any form of computer science to do its evil deeds. Of course there is a big overlap but in general computer science handles the technical working of computers whilst IT is concerned more with information manipulation and the business requirements.

• I think that computer scince is concerned with the principles an the concepts that are behined the emergence of IT. In other words, CS is acadimic studying of the S/W and H/W concepts but IT may have specific purposes to be studied.

• From a very broad perspective, Computer Science is the study of the principles of computing. It helps you better understand how computers solve problems, what are the kinds of problems that a computer can solve and how one would present a problem to a computer. Abstract ideas that rely on fundamental mathematical theories are at the heart of Computer Science. Information Technology is the study of technology that drives Information Systems for businesses. Understanding what technology/tools can best meet the Information management needs of an organization is at the heart of IT. Familiarity with such tools is an essential for a successful IT professional. The interesting relation between the 2 fields lies in the fact that more often than not, it is Computer Scientists that design and develop these tools that an IT professional uses. Personally, I think that an adaptable Computer Scientist should not find it difficult to migrate to the field of IT (if he/she chooses to do so) by learning more about the technology that is predominatly used at his/her organization. An IT professional on the other hand, will have to go through a mathmatics/CS training in order to be a good computer scientist. In a nutshell, Computer Science is about understanding generic oncepts,whereas IT is about knowing more facts.

• As a computer Scientist and now migrated towards Information Technology I can say that a computer science is the study of computer's design and operation. But Information Technology is the use of the computer for a specific purpose without knowing the details of how the computer is carrying on all these tasks.

• First you have to understand the differences between science, engineering & technology. Science is a systematic & specialized way of thinking.A scientist thinks & makes principles & hypothesis. Engineering means the practical implementation of principles & hypothesis for the welfare of human beings with the help of machines. At first he makes drawings on the basis of principles, and then take it to real world for use. Technology always deals with OPTIMIZATION (MAXIMUM GAIN WITH MINIMUM EFFORTS)with the help of newer ssupports like computers & transfer machines. We use computer sc. as a tool. The aim of IT is to make our information more proffitable by making it recently & attractive.

• Computer science is - "What is a computer and how it works?" Information tech. is - "what and how can i do with computers."

• Computer Science is a part of IT. Computer Scientists are generally responsible of building the tools(OS, Compiler, Database...) used in IT, where as IT technicians are responsible of using these tools to make real world applications.

• This question is very tricky and needs to be answered very carefully. The basic difference is that information technology is about transmitting information and gathering it, whereas computer science is something related to computers and only computer, such as software. IT people can be considered more of a general management subject.

• Computer Science refers to the science or details of computers - which includes the design of software (such as compilers, Operating Systems), design of hardware (such as RAM, CPU etc), networking etc. Information Technology is the application of Computers towards organizing and efficient retrieval/reporting of information. A useful, if somewhat crude analogy could be the difference between "heat, cold, humidity, water "etc (which is like computer science) and Meteorology (which uses the information about cloud, humididy etc to predict weather)

• The former is a basic science and the latter is an applied science.

CE (computer science) describe what is the science behind computer..

how computer is engineered. include history, present and future of computer. including its application and lot many things.

while IT is some thing different...

it is study of technology..
describe following things..

1. How to collect information from various source....
2. How to store information in such a way that it can be back in desire manner.
3. How to re-distribute information in such way that it fulfill the requirement.

and by chance computer is involve in the all activity.
so, its look like computer and IT both are same.


but fact is that,
CS is a study of machine..
IT is a study of information gathering, storing and distributing.

now a days computer is main device that is used in such activity so IT very similar to computer science.
if in future any device will invented that will betterly fulfill IT requirement(information gathering, storing and distributing). than i am sure that IT people are going to learn that device.

First answer by Jim b. Last edit by Rajnikant. Contributor trust: 26 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 252 [recommend question]

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