Reference number: CH000039

What are the differences between hardware / software?

Question:

What are the differences between hardware / software?

Answer:

There are several differences between computer hardware and software. However, the fundamental difference between hardware and software is that hardware is a physical device something that you're able to touch and see. For example, the computer monitor you're viewing this text on or the mouse you're using to navigate is considered computer hardware.

Software is code and instructions that tell a computer and/or hardware how to operate. This code can be viewed and executed using a computer or other hardware device. However, without any hardware software would not exist. An examples of software is Microsoft Windows, an operating system that allows you to control your computer and other programs that run on it. Another example of software is the Internet browser you're using to view this page.

• See our software dictionary definition and hardware dictionary definition for additional information about each of these terms as well as related terms.
• See our hardware listing and software listing for a complete listing of hardware devices and software programs currently found on Computer Hope.