# CIFA

> experimental computer built in Romania in 1957

**Wikidata**: [Q12723201](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12723201)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIFA_(computer))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cifa

## Summary
CIFA is an experimental computer built in Romania in 1957. It is classified as an early instance of a computer, defined broadly as a general-purpose device for performing arithmetic or logical operations.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Instance of a computer.
- **Function**: General-purpose device for performing arithmetic or logical operations.
- **Build Date**: 1957.
- **Origin**: Romania.
- **Nature**: Experimental machine.
- **Wikidata Description**: "experimental computer built in Romania in 1957".
- **Wikipedia Title**: CIFA (computer).
- **Freebase ID**: /m/011f4kp0.
- **Sitelink Count**: 4.
- **Available Languages**: Commons, English (en), Romanian (ro), Russian (ru).
- **Commons Category**: CIFA (computer).
- **Media Files**: Includes images `CIFA-1.png` and `CIFA-1.jpg`.

## FAQs
### Q: What exactly is CIFA?
A: CIFA is an experimental computer that was constructed in Romania in 1957. It serves as an early example of computing technology in the region.

### Q: What type of machine is CIFA classified as?
A: CIFA is classified as a computer, which is defined as a general-purpose device capable of performing arithmetic or logical operations.

### Q: Where is information about CIFA available?
A: Information about CIFA is documented in English, Romanian, and Russian language editions of Wikipedia, as well as on Wikimedia Commons.

## Why It Matters
CIFA holds historical significance as a pioneering technological achievement in Romania during the early years of electronic computing. Built in 1957, it represents the early adoption and development of information processing technology in Eastern Europe, occurring only shortly after the emergence of practical electronic computers around 1945. As an experimental machine, it likely contributed to the foundational research and technical understanding that supported the later growth of the region's computer science and IT capabilities. Its preservation in multiple language editions and on Wikimedia Commons underscores its recognized status as a notable subject in the history of computing.

## Notable For
- Being an early **experimental computer** constructed in **1957**.
- Originating in **Romania**, marking it as a significant early milestone in the country's technological history.
- Serving as a concrete instance of the general class of **computers** (general-purpose devices for arithmetic or logical operations).
- Possessing a distinct multilingual footprint across **English, Romanian, and Russian** Wikipedia, as well as **Wikimedia Commons**.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
CIFA is identified as an experimental computer. It falls under the broad class of "computer," which is defined as a general-purpose device designed to carry out arithmetic or logical operations. This classification places CIFA within the same category as other information processors and computing platforms, distinct from single-purpose calculators.

### Historical Context
Built in 1957, CIFA was developed during the formative years of global computing history. This era, initiated by the first working electronic machines around 1945, was defined by rapid innovation and experimentation. As an experimental machine, CIFA represents Romania's early engagement with this emerging field.

### Documentation and Identifiers
The entity is cataloged and referenced across several major knowledge bases:
- **Wikidata**: Described explicitly as an "experimental computer built in Romania in 1957."
- **Freebase**: Listed with the unique identifier `/m/011f4kp0`.
- **Wikipedia**: Titled "CIFA (computer)," with sitelinks indicating 4 connected pages.
- **Language Coverage**: Content regarding CIFA is maintained in Commons, English (`en`), Romanian (`ro`), and Russian (`ru`).

### Visual Records
Visual documentation of CIFA is preserved in the Wikimedia Commons category "CIFA (computer)." The available media includes specific image files, notably `CIFA-1.png` and `CIFA-1.jpg`, which serve as photographic records of the machine.

### Technical Context
As a computer, CIFA is theoretically associated with the core components that define the class, including the interaction of software (instructions) and hardware (physical components) managed by a central processing unit (CPU). However, the specific technical architecture and operational details of CIFA are characterized primarily by its experimental nature and its 1957 Romanian origin.