Hardware refers to the physical components of a system, as opposed to software which denotes the digital or logical components. In computing and electronics, hardware encompasses all the tangible parts of a system that you can touch and see.
Here are some key aspects and categories of hardware:
- Central Processing Unit (CPU):
- The CPU is often considered the brain of the computer. It performs calculations and executes instructions to carry out tasks.
- Memory:
- Includes Random Access Memory (RAM) which temporarily stores data and instructions that the CPU needs, and storage memory like Hard Drives (HDD) or Solid State Drives (SSD) where data is stored permanently.
- Motherboard:
- The motherboard is the main circuit board that holds the CPU, memory, and other crucial components, and allows them to communicate with each other.
- Input Devices:
- Such as keyboards, mice, and touchscreens which allow users to interact with the system.
- Output Devices:
- Such as monitors and printers that allow the system to communicate information to the user.
- Peripheral Devices:
- Additional devices like printers, scanners, and external drives that extend the functionality of the system.
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU):
- Specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device.
- Networking Hardware:
- Including routers, switches, and modems that facilitate communication between computers and other devices on a network.
- Power Supplies:
- They convert electrical energy from an outlet into a usable form for the computer.
- Cooling Systems:
- Used to dissipate the heat produced by the various components, ensuring they stay within operational temperature ranges.
- Hardware Interfaces:
- These include various types of ports and buses that enable communication between different hardware components within and outside the system.
- Embedded Systems:
- These are specialized hardware systems that do not look like computers. They are dedicated to specific tasks and “embed” the essential functions of a computer in other devices (e.g., the electronic systems in a car).
- Mobile Devices:
- Smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices also have hardware components like those found in computers, but they are miniaturized and optimized for mobile computing.
- Servers and Mainframes:
- These are powerful computers used in businesses and data centers to handle large-scale processing and data management tasks.
The development, manufacturing, and optimization of hardware are crucial for the advancement of technology. Innovations in hardware technology drive increases in computing power, efficiency, miniaturization, and enable the development of new types of devices and applications.
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
Cloud Computing
Computing resources—such as applications, servers, storage, or databases—delivered from remote infrastructure and scaled as requirements change.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Cloud-based servers, storage, and networking that customers configure and manage without owning the underlying data-center hardware.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Software accessed as an online service instead of being installed and maintained entirely on the customer’s own computers or servers.
Disaster Recovery (DRaaS)
A plan and service for restoring applications, data, and operations after an outage or disruption. DRaaS provides recovery infrastructure through a managed cloud service.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.
API
An application programming interface is a defined way for software systems to exchange data or request functions from one another.