Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a computer, i.e. the components that can be seen and touched.
Examples of Hardware are the 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 a 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 the hardware is the ‘heart’ of a computer system, then the software is its ‘soul’. Both are complementary to each other.
