What is the difference between hardware and software?
Hardware is the physical components of a computer system, while software is
the intangible instructions that tell the hardware what to do.
Hardware is made up of electronic and mechanical components, such as the
central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage, input and output devices, and
the motherboard. Software is written in programming languages, such as
C++, Java, and Python.
Hardware and software are interdependent. Hardware cannot function without
software, and software cannot be used without hardware.
Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between hardware and
software:
| Characteristic | Hardware | Software |
| Tangible vs. intangible | Tangible | Intangible |
| Physical vs. logical | Physical | Logical |
| Manufactured vs. developed | Manufactured | Developed |
Here are some examples of hardware and software:
Hardware:
- CPU
- Memory
- Storage (hard disk drive, solid-state drive)
- Input and output devices (keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer)
- Motherboard
Software:
- Operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
- Word processor (Microsoft Word, Google Docs)
- Video game (Grand Theft Auto V, Minecraft)
- Business software (Microsoft Office, Salesforce)
Hardware and software work together to make computers useful. The hardware
provides the physical foundation for the software to run on, and the software
provides the instructions that tell the hardware what to do.
