What type of component did first-generation computers primarily use?

First-generation computers were characterized by their use of vacuum tubes as the primary electronic component. Vacuum tubes allowed for the amplification and switching of electronic signals, which was crucial for performing calculations and processing data. This technology was fundamental during the early stages of computer development, as it enabled machines to execute basic operations.

While transistors and integrated circuits became prevalent in later generations of computers, they were not part of the first generation, which spanned from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s. Microprocessors, which integrate the components of a computer's central processing unit onto a single chip, appeared much later and are not associated with first-generation technology. Vacuum tubes were significant in paving the way for future advancements, but their large size, heat generation, and low reliability ultimately led to their replacement with the more efficient technologies that followed.