Quantum Computing Simplified

Shobhit Srivastava
3 min readJan 28, 2023

--

“Quantum computing is like a rover on Mars. It’s just at the beginning, but it’s going to be very exciting.” — David Deutsch

Unsplash Image by Christian Wiediger

Quantum computing is a type of computing that uses quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data. In classical computing, data is stored in bits, which can have a value of either 0 or 1. In quantum computing, data is stored in quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states at the same time.

This property of qubits allows quantum computers to perform certain types of calculations much faster than classical computers. For example, a quantum computer can quickly search through a large database to find a specific piece of information, a task that would take a classical computer a long time to complete.

One of the key differences between classical and quantum computing is the way they process information. In classical computing, the processor works with binary digits (bits) that can have only one of two values, 0 or 1. In quantum computing, the processor works with quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states at the same time.

In a classical computer, the state of a bit is either 0 or 1. But in a quantum computer, a qubit can exist in a superposition of states. This means that a qubit can be in a state that is a combination of 0 and 1 at the same time. This allows a quantum computer to perform multiple calculations at once, which can greatly speed up certain types of computations.

Unsplash Image by Bamdad Norouzian

Another important feature of quantum computing is entanglement. Entanglement is a phenomenon in which two or more qubits become connected in such a way that the state of one qubit is dependent on the state of the other qubits. This allows a quantum computer to perform calculations on multiple qubits at once, which can also speed up certain types of computations.

Quantum computing is still in its infancy, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about computation. Its ability to perform certain types of calculations much faster than classical computers could lead to breakthroughs in fields such as cryptography, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence.

Freepik image by pikisuperstar

However, it is important to note that quantum computers are not a replacement for classical computers, but rather they are a complementary technology. They excel at specific kinds of problems, such as simulating quantum systems and solving optimization problems, whereas classical computers are better suited for other types of tasks.

In summary, quantum computing is a type of computing that uses the properties of quantum mechanics to perform operations on data. It uses qubits instead of classical bits and can perform certain types of calculations much faster than classical computers. It has the potential to revolutionize many fields, but it is still in its early stages and it is not a replacement for classical computers, it is a complementary technology.

If this article has benefitted you in anyway. Please do support me here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/shobhitsri

--

--

Shobhit Srivastava

Software Developer | My areas of interest are: Software Development, OpenSource, Startups, Innovation