Hardware: the physical side
Hardware means the physical parts of a computer system that you can see or touch.
Examples include the processor, motherboard, RAM, storage drive, monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers and printer.
Software: the instructions
Software is a collection of programs and instructions that tells hardware what to do.
Windows, Linux, Android, web browsers, calculators and games are examples of software.
Hardware and software work together
Hardware
Physical equipment. It needs instructions to perform useful tasks.
Software
Programs and instructions. It needs hardware to run.
| Hardware | Software |
|---|---|
| Keyboard | Word processor |
| Monitor | Web browser |
| SSD | Operating system |
| Printer | Printer driver |
Easy way to remember: Hardware is what you can touch. Software is what gives the hardware instructions.