What is Hardware?

Hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer. These are the components you can see and touch, like the keyboard, mouse and monitor.

Four Types of Hardware

• Input devices: Keyboard, mouse, scanner and microphone.
• Processing devices: CPU, motherboard and graphics card.
• Output devices: Monitor, printer and speakers.
• Storage devices: Hard drive, SSD and USB flash drive.

Hardware vs Software

Hardware is the machine, and software is the instructions. Both are needed for a computer to work. One cannot function without the other.

Why It Matters

Knowing the hardware helps you choose the right computer and fix common problems. It is the foundation of all computer learning.