Hardware and software

A computer system needs both hardware (the physical parts you can touch) and software (the programs and instructions that tell the hardware what to do). Neither is useful without the other.

• Hardware examples: monitor, keyboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive, printer.
• Software is divided into system software and application software.
• System software manages the computer itself — the operating system (Windows, Linux, Android) and utilities.
• Application software lets the user do tasks — word processors, browsers, games, spreadsheets.
• Firmware is software stored on hardware (e.g. the BIOS) that starts the machine.

• Operating system (OS) — software that controls hardware and provides a platform for applications.
• Application — a program written for an end-user task.
• Utility — a small system program for maintenance (antivirus, disk clean-up).