Hardware & Software (AQA GCSE Computer Science): Revision Note

Hardware & Software

• A computer system is made up of hardware and software, working together they make a computer operate

• One without the other is rendered useless, for example, a screen with nothing to output

What is hardware?

• Hardware is the physical components of a computer system that you can touch

• Examples of hardware include:

  • CPU

  • RAM

  • Storage devices

  • Keyboard

  • Mouse

What is software?

• Software is the programs that control the hardware, they live on the computer system but cannot be physically touched

• Example of software include:

  • Operating system

  • Applications (apps)

  • Utility software