- Simple Explanation: The physical components of a computer or electronic device that you can touch and see.
- Example: The monitor, keyboard, and mouse of a desktop computer or the screen and buttons of a smartphone.
- Advanced Explanation: The physical electronic and mechanical components of a computer system, including the central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage devices, input/output devices, and more.
- Additional Resources: What Is Computer Hardware? – Lifewire
- Wikipedia Link: Computer Hardware
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system or electronic device, including its physical structure, peripherals, and internal components. It includes all the tangible, tangible parts of a computer that can be seen and touched, in contrast to software, which are digital instructions and data.
Examples of hardware components include:
- Case
- Motherboard
- Processor (CPU)
- Memory (RAM)
- Storage (HDD/SSD)
- Graphics card (GPU)
- Network interface card (NIC)
- Input devices (mouse, keyboard)
- Output devices (monitor, printer)
Hardware is responsible for executing the instructions provided by software, storing and processing data, and providing physical interfaces for user interactivity and connectivity. The integration and proper functioning of hardware components is essential for the overall performance and reliability of a computer system.
« Back to Glossary Index