Which basic operations can an information processor perform on symbols?

In the context of computer science and information processing, an information processor derives its computational power from its ability to execute a small set of elementary operations on symbols. These fundamental operations include:

• Reading
• Comparing
• Creating, modifying, and naming
• Copying
• Storing
• Writing1

These operations allow the processor to manipulate symbolic expressions, which serve as inputs and outputs for the system. In more abstract models, such as the Turing machine, these capabilities are represented by a tape head that can move to, read, write, and erase symbols on a storage medium, as well as transition between internal states to determine subsequent actions.2