Final answer:
A transistor is an electrical component that controls the current in a circuit. It was widely used in computers and is now used in modern electronic devices.
Step-by-step explanation:
A transistor is an electrical component made from silicon or other semiconductors. It acts as an electric valve that controls the current in a circuit.
Transistors were widely used in the design and construction of computers in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They allowed computers to be smaller, faster, and more power-efficient.
In modern electronic devices, transistors are used with diodes to handle digital signals and perform tasks like data manipulation. They are an integral part of integrated circuits found in computers and other electronic devices.