There are many people who are confused with the terms hardware and software. They speak about softwares and hardware, give classes to others about them and even go to extend of advising others on the latest technologies available, but the fact is they don’t have a clear cut idea of what exactly the two are.
Computer hardware is the part of the computer which you can physically see or touch, or feel. Computer software, on the other hand, points to the programs or visual things that you can see but can’t touch or feel. Both hardware and software are required to make a functioning computer. Both are dependent on each other for their functioning.
Software requires a hardware to output its programs and functions, while hardware usually can’t work without some programs installed in it, which constitutes the software. The hardware may work on the power supply but it does require some instructions as to what it has to do, making it necessary to have some sort of software to guide it.
There is a definite fine line separating the two concepts. Hardware engineers are those who design and plan the computer hardwares and their functions in a scenario, while software engineers have to learn different languages to write and design programs which are to be implemented in the computer for its functioning.
The hardware examples can be anything you can see with the computer. The computer LCD is hardware, the keyboard, mouse, printers, floppies, and many others are there which you can see. These are all typical examples of hardwares. Each has a specific function and all of them are designed to do a task which would be directed to them by the user.
A computer is a complex electronic device, albeit and important one for doing the jobs of everyone.