What is hardware and software?

Question

I'm just half way trough doing my Management Information System assignment and got stuck on one of the questions. What is Hardware and software? Or is there any web page which would describe me in details however in a language for computer dummies what these things are? Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Computer software is so called in contrast to computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. In computers, software is loaded into RAM and executed in the central processing unit. At the lowest level, software consists of a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions (object code), which change the state of the computer from its preceding state. Software is an ordered sequence of instructions for changing the state of the computer hardware in a particular sequence. It is usually written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are compiled or interpreted into machine language object code. Software may also be written in an assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language must be assembled into object code via an assembler.



And Hardware is the general term that is used to describe physical artifacts of a technology.

It can be equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, corners, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts, especially when they are made of metal. In the United States, hardware has been traditionally sold in hardware stores.

Though often used interchangeably to mean "hand tools," hardware historically referred to the metal bits that were used to make wooden products stronger, more functional, longer lasting and easier to fabricate/assemble than if they did not have the benefit of metal fittings.

Answer 2

Software, consisting of programs, enables a computer to perform specific tasks, as opposed to its physical components (hardware) which can only do the tasks they are mechanically designed for. The term includes application software such as word processors which perform productive tasks for users, system software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to run the necessary services for user-interfaces and applications, and middleware which controls and co-ordinates distributed systems

Answer 3

Hardware is Physical and you can touch it ete. Software is Electronic and is transmitted through and you cannot touch it. Both Hardware and Software need Drivers to function. Drivers are Electronic and thus Software.

Answer 4

Hardware is mechanical parts, like a cd/rom drive. Software is a program or game ect that you can load and run.

Answer 5

hardware= is the parts of the computer such as CPU the inner and outer parts of the CPU are included..

software= such as games, any programs in your computer are considered as software/application..

Answer 6

hardware is something physical that goes into your pc ie memory hdd cd/dvd drive, software is programs on your pc, there ya go

Answer 7

You can touch hardware
you can't touch software

Answer 8

it speaks for itself! computer hardware is what you can touch, software is what you can't i.e. programming

Answer 9

Don't forget the third element 'wetware' otherwise known as the brain!

Answer 10

you'd better read it in wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software