Computer – Hardware

Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a computer i.e. the components that can be seen and touched.

Examples of Hardware are following:

• Input devices — keyboard, mouse etc.
• Output devices — printer, monitor etc.
• Secondary storage devices — Hard disk, CD, DVD etc.
• Internal components — CPU, motherboard, RAM etc.

Relationship between Hardware and Software

• Hardware and software are mutually dependent on each other. Both of them must work together to make a computer produce a useful output.
• Software cannot be utilized without supporting hardware.
• Hardware without set of programs to operate upon cannot be utilized and is useless.
• To get a particular job done on the computer, relevant software should be loaded into the hardware
• Hardware is a one-time expense.
• Software development is very expensive and is a continuing expense.
• Different software applications can be loaded on a hardware to run different jobs.
• A software acts as an interface between the user and the hardware.
• If hardware is the ‘heart’ of a computer system, then software is its ‘soul’. Both are complimentary to each other.