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What is the Difference Between Hardware and Software?

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer or device, such as the processor, memory, storage, and other peripherals. These are the tangible components that you can touch and feel. Software, on the other hand, refers to the instructions and programs that tell the hardware what to do. The software consists of a series of instructions that are executed by the hardware to perform specific tasks.

Hardware is the foundation upon which software runs. Without hardware, the software cannot function. However, the software is necessary for the hardware to be useful. For example, a computer’s processor is hardware, but it needs an operating system (a type of software) to do anything useful.

Difference Between Hardware and Software

Difference Between Hardware and Software in Tabular Form

HardwareSoftware

Definition

The physical components of the computer and other attached input/output devices are called Hardware.Software is the set of instructions stored as a program that governs the operation of a computer system and makes the hardware run.

Purpose

All hardware components are connected mechanically, electrically, or electronically with each other to run the software.They are designed by manufacturers or programmers to fulfill the requirements/needs.

Types

1. Input devices
2. Output devices
3. Central processing unit
4. Backing storage
5. Electronic circuits i.e. resistors, capacitors, ICs, power supply units, etc.
1. System software
2. Application software.

What is Hardware?

What is Hardware

The computer and its associated equipment are included in the hardware. The term hardware refers to machinery. This includes the central processing unit (CPU), and all of its equipment. Among the support, types of equipment are input and output devices, storage devices, and communication devices.

Hardware refers to the part of the computer that you can see and touch. These include CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, etc. The most important piece of hardware is the central processing unit (CPU) which contains a tiny rectangular chip called a microprocessor. It is the “brain” of the computer—the part that translates instructions and performs a calculation.

Examples of Hardware

The hardware of computers is the physical component that makes up a computer system. it can include all input and output devices. the hardware of the computer can be classified into various types. The major parts and examples of hardware are given below:

  • Hard Drive
  • Motherboard
  • CD Drive
  • Mouse
  • Keyboard
  •  Monitor
Examples of Hardware

What is Software?

Instructions that tell a computer what to do or programs that are installed on a computer are known as software. The term software refers to a program and the manuals that support them. Computer programs are machine-readable instructions that direct the circuitry within the hardware parts of the CBIS to produce useful information from data.

Programs are generally stored or some input or output medium, often a disk or tape. A word processing program that you can use to write letters on your computer is a type of software. The operating system (OS) is software that manages your computer and the devices connected to it. Two well-known operating systems are Windows and Linux operating systems.

How can computer software be classified?

Classification of softwares

Computer software can be classified into three major types.

  • System software
  • Application software
  • Utility software

What are some examples of software?

Examples of softwares

With the passage of time, as technology grows up we can see hundreds of examples of software out there as computer users. the software can be various types such as rich media players, Operating Systems, Antivirus, service software, and games you play. some of the popular examples are listed below:

  • Windows, Linux, macOS – Operating Systems.
  • Every game you play is software e.g Candy Crush, PubG, Clash of clans.
  • Avast, Microsoft security essentials.Kaspersky, Quickheal – Antivirus.
  • Windows Media Player, Codec pack, iTunes, VLC media player
  • LambdaTest, Slack – SaaS, Salesforce

The final words on Software Vs. Hardware

Computer software or simply software is a collection of a set of instructions that actually tells a computer actually what to do or what work to do. this is a reverse process of computer hardware. the computer software program is widely used across computer science and computer engineering with the usage of a variety of computer systems, programs, and data. depending on the goal of work, computer software is divided into three major different types. for example:

  • System software
  • Application software
  • Malicious software

On the other hand, the hardware is actually said to be the parts or components of the computer. it can be consists of a CPU (central processing unit), keyboard, monitor or LCD, data storage, motherboard, speakers, etc. it always needs a power supply to start.

The motherboard of a computer is the main component. the integrated circuitry called the motherboard connects the other parts of the computer e.g. CPU and RAM.

The hardware of the computer can also be upgraded. which means adding new hardware or some of its features to the older one to improve the performance which added the capacity or features for better performance. e.g. the hardware can now be replaced by SSD to enhance the usability of the CPU.

Computer hardware contains dangerous chemicals such as mercury, nickel, lead, cadmium, etc so computer hardware always suggests the recycling process to avoid hazardous consequences.

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