What Is Computer Hardware?

So, What Parts Of The Computer Are Considered Hardware?

*Motherboard - A computer's motherboard is kind of like its central nervous system. It is the component that ties together all of the other components inside a personal computer (PC), allowing each component to send signals and communicate with each other.

*CPU - The CPU, or central processing unit, is the computer's brain. It does the all the hard thinking and crunches the numbers to sort through the data it is provided with by all of the other hardware. The speed of a CPU is essential to how fast the system will operate.

*RAM - Standing for "Random Access Memory," RAM is essentially short term memory. It is used by the system to keep track of each little detail that is being worked on at the present time. Any program or window open on the computer will be operating through RAM.

*Hard Drive - If RAM is short term working memory, then the long term memory of computer hardware has to be the hard drive (sometimes referred to as "hard disk"). The hard drive is used to permanently store (or remember) the details and data created. Saving a file means placing it into the computer's permanent internal memory.

*Removable Media Drives - CD, DVD, and even Blue-ray drives are all examples of removable media drives. Some of these disc drives are exclusively able input data into the computer system, while others are able to both input data and transfer or backup data from the computer's hard drive to a blank disc. This is known as "burning a disc."

*Video Card - A computer's video card provides both the interface for connecting a monitor to the system, as well as some additional short term memory to keep the video displaying smoothly and crisply as it is output to the monitor.

*Sound Card - This hardware device provides connections for external speakers and also inputs for microphones and other external sound equipment. So in a way, the sound card is sort of like a computer's ears and voice all in one.

*Networking Card - This is your computer's window to the outside world, allowing it to physically connect to a network via cable (Ethernet), or hook up with a network wirelessly through a wireless card. In the past, built-in modems used to be standard; however, with broadband high speed internet being the norm now, modems aren't quite as prevalent as they once were.

*Case - This is the structural skeleton and skin of a computer system. The case holds and protects all of the other computer hardware.

Components Sometimes Referred To As Hardware…

While the external components that are not actually within the computer's case are technically considered peripherals, many do refer to them as computer hardware as well. These components include monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, speakers, scanners, and pretty much anything else that can be connected to a computer.

What Is Software Then?

Software is simple to explain. If all of the computer hardware components listed above are the "body" of the computer, then the software is language and knowledge.

Again, one of the best ways to comprehend computer hardware is to compare the functionality of the individual components with our own bodies. Each part serves its own purpose, but they all work together to bring everything to life!