What is Hardware?
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system or electronic device. These tangible parts include the central processing unit (CPU), memory (RAM), storage devices (hard drives or solid-state drives), and peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and monitors.
- Physical components
- Tangible parts
- Examples: CPU, RAM, hard drives
What is Software?
Software, on the other hand, refers to the intangible programs and operating systems that run on computer hardware. It includes applications, utilities, and operating systems that manage and control computer hardware.
- Intangible programs
- Examples: operating systems, applications
Key Differences
The primary difference between hardware and software is that hardware is physical, while software is non-physical. Hardware provides the platform for software to run, and software gives instructions to hardware to perform specific tasks.