What is the difference between software and hardware?

Hardware vs. Software

Hardware and software are the two essential components of a computer system. While they work together seamlessly, they serve distinct purposes.

Hardware
* Physical components: These are the tangible parts of a computer system that you can touch and see.
* Examples: Monitor, keyboard, mouse, CPU, RAM, hard drive, graphics card, etc.
* Function: Provides the platform for software to operate.
* Nature: Durable, tangible, and susceptible to physical damage.

Software
* Intangible instructions: These are programs and data that tell the hardware what to do.
* Examples: Operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), applications (Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop), games, etc.
* Function: Controls the hardware, performs tasks, and interacts with the user.
* Nature: Digital, intangible, and vulnerable to software issues like viruses.

In essence:
* Hardware is the physical body of a computer.
* Software is the brain that tells the body what to do.

They are interdependent:
* Software relies on hardware to execute its instructions.
* Hardware needs software to perform meaningful tasks.

Would you like to learn more about specific hardware or software components?