Computer hardware and software | Hardware and Software difference


Hardware and software
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In this article we focus on what is mean by Computer hardware and software, also we are trying to find Hardware and Software difference. On the basis of last article we are getting familiar with Computer Hardware and Software and its difference.

 

Computer Hardware and software:

The first question comes in our mind is what is hardware and software?

Hardware:

It is the part of machine which we can touch, we can see, means physically present part. We can easily replace these parts if anyone gets damaged. These parts are portable means we can carry from one place to other. These parts are connected together by wire which makes a unit called as computer.

So what are the different parts of machine to which can be visible to us?

1. Input Devices:

These devices help humans to pass request to the computer.

Some input devices are:

  • Keyboard
  • Mouse
  • Touch screen Monitor
  • Camera
  • Microphone
  • Biometric device

2. CPU (Central Processing Unit)

This is the type if container which contains connected circuit of various delegates parts to which we cannot touch from outside.

Some input devices are:

  • Mother Board
  • Power Supply (SMPS)
  • HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
  • RAM (Random Access Memory)
  • DVD Writer 

3. Output Devices:

These devices help computers to show result of the request which comes from the user or human being.

Some output devices are:

  • Printer
  • Speaker
  • Plotter
  • Touch screen
  • Projector
  • Headphone
  • GPS

 

Software:

By using the hardware devices we can connect and create a machine but then how to do work on it? To do that work we want some instructions and programs and this set of instructions and programs are called as software.

This software works as an interface between user or human being and hardware or machine.

Types of software:

There are 2 types of software used and these are:

  1. System Software
  2. Application Software

1. System Software:

This software is used to give instructions to the hardware of computers.

It includes:

a. Operating System:

It is nothing but an interface between user and hardware. Due to this you can see the screen on machine.

When we purchase any computer it is only the set of hardware devices but when we want to use is first we have to install the operating system software on it.

There are different types of operating systems used now-a-days and these are:

  • Windows Operating System
  • MAC OS
  • Linux Os
  • Ubuntu

b. Utility Programs:

These are the service programs for the hardware devices. This are not directly connected to the hardware.

This mainly includes:

  • Disk defragmenter
  • Antivirus

c. Device Drivers:

It is a special type of program which connects hardware device to software.

It includes:

  • Audio driver
  • Graphic driver
  • Motherboard driver

 

2. Application Software:

These are end users applications and these are installed from the request and choice of users.

It is having two types:

a. Basic Applications:

These are the set of applications which are used in daily life of human beings.

Some of these applications are:

  • Microsoft:

Word, Excel, Power point, Outlook, etc.

  • Internet Browsers:

IE (Internet Explorer), Chrome, etc.

b. Specialized software:

This  are installed by users choice and requirements.

For example, Payroll Management, Hotel Billing and Lodging, etc.

 

 

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