Microcontroller connection to a regular computer

[antennaboy]

Hello Forum,
this is a truly basic and simple question: Arduino, Basic Stamp, etc. are examples of microcontrollers. A microcontroller is a small computer with memory, a processor, input ports and output ports. The microcontroller needs power to function, of course.

We usually connect the microcontroller to a regular computer. Why? Does the regular computer serve to "control" the microcontroller and interface with it, i.e. put code in the microprocessor memory? Small devices like sensors get connected to the microcontroller and not to the regular computer. So it is the microcontroller that does the job (not the bigger computer).

Sometimes the microcontroller can operate by itself without connection to a regular computer (if we build something that needs to be carried by the person) but I believe that initially the microcontroller needs to be programmed via another computer anyway.....
thanks,
antennaboy

[adafruit_support_bill]

You need to connect it to a computer for programming. When experimenting, it is handy to jut leave it connected. The computer supplies the power and the programming capability. But many projects can run stand-alone once completed.

Sometimes, microcontrollers are also used to perform 'real-time' tasks on behalf of the computer. High-speed data acquisition and real-time control are two things that microcontrollers can do better than most computers.