Difference between Hardware and Software
Hardware
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system that you can touch, see and feel. It includes components such as a monitor, keyboard, hard drive, RAM, and other peripherals. The term hardware also includes devices that are external to a computer, such as printers, speakers, and scanners.
Hardware typically receives input data from software, processes it, and then outputs the results as output. The hardware components of a computer system are designed to be physically connected together in order to create a functional computer.
For example, let us take a computer tower. It includes a motherboard, RAM, a CPU, fans, hard drives, optical drives, and a power supply. All these components work together to read and process data that is stored on the hard drive or accessed via the internet.
Software
Unlike hardware, software refers to the programs and applications that run on your computer. It is intangible and you cannot see or touch it physically. It is a set of instructions or codes that the computer’s hardware executes to carry out specific tasks. Software can be classified as system software or application software.
System software includes operating systems and software required to control hardware. Application software, on the other hand, refers to any program designed to accomplish a specific task, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and video games.
For example, let us consider a music processing software like Audacity. It is an audio editing software that performs processing on audio files stored on the computer. The software uses the computer’s hardware components, such as the CPU and RAM, to execute its processes.
Conclusion
In summary, hardware and software are two terms that refer to different components of a computer system. Hardware refers to the physical components that you can touch and see, such as the computer tower, monitor, and keyboard. Software, on the other hand, refers to the programs and applications that run on the computer. They are both essential parts of a computer system and work together to accomplish tasks. Understanding the difference between the two can help you make informed decisions when purchasing and using a computer.
Table difference between hardware and software with example
| Category | Hardware | Software |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Physical components of a computer | Programs and data that run on a computer |
| Examples | Keyboard, mouse, monitor, CPU, motherboard | Operating system, web browser, Microsoft Office suite |
| Installation | Physically installed into the computer | Installed onto the computer through a digital download, DVD, or USB drive |
| Upgrades | Hardware upgrades involve physically replacing the component | Software upgrades involve downloading and installing updates |
| Obsolescence | Hardware can become obsolete quickly as new technology becomes available | Software can become obsolete due to lack of support and updates |