![]() Here are some examples of software: Operating systems like Windows 11 or iOSWeb browsersAntivirus toolsAdobe PhotoshopMobile apps Since software is information and not a physical thing, there are few barriers to it.For example, one physical hard drive might take two pounds of materials to create, meaning 3,000 hard drives would take 6,000 lbs of materials.One software program, on the other hand, can be duplicated 3,000 or 300,000 times, over as many devices, but be taking up essentially no more physical resources.Software interacts with you, the hardware you're using, and with hardware that exists elsewhere.Ī photo-sharing software program, for example, on your PC or phone works with you and your hardware to take a photo and then communicates with servers and other devices on the internet to show that photo on your friend's devices.Software is also extremelyflexible, allowing it to be continuously updated and modified.While you certainly wouldn't expect your wireless router to "grow" another antenna or your smartphone to get a bigger screen as it charged onyournightstand, expect your software to regularly gain features and grow insize as it's updated.Another great thing about software is its potential to last indefinitely. Here are some examples of hardware: SmartphoneTabletLaptopDesktop computerPrinterFlash driveRouter While a smartphone is a piece of hardware, it also contains software and firmware (more on those below).Hardware devices are also comprised of other hardware devices a tablet or computer, for example, contains individual components like amotherboard, aprocessor,memory sticks, and more.While it's not always this easy, using one of your five sensesexcept taste please don't taste any part of your computer systemis often your best way to tell if the hardware is the cause of a problem.Is it smoking? Is it cracked? Is it missing a piece? If so, the hardware is probably the source of the concern.Īs sensitive as we've made hardware out to be in what you've just read, one great thing about hardware is that it can usually be easily swapped out.The software you lose may be irreplaceable, but most hardware is "dumb"the replacement often being as valuable as the original.See this list of computer hardware devices for more on some of the common parts of a computer system and what they're used for.Software Is Virtual It Can Be Copied Changed and Destroyed Software is everything about your computer that isn't hardware. ![]() It gets even more confusing when firmware is brought into the mixĪndrew Brookes / Getty Images Here's more on how each of these "wares" differs, something you need to know for troubleshooting any of your tech devices: Hardware Is Physical It' s " Real " Sometimes Breaks and Eventually Wears Out Hardware is "real stuff" that you can see with your eyes and touch with your fingers.And being a physical item, you can also sometimes smellit as it dies a fiery death, or hear as it physically decays in its last motions.Since hardware is part of the "real" world, it all eventually wears out.Being a physical thing, it's also possible to break it, drown it, overheat it, and otherwise expose it to the elements. ![]() Lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on FebruTweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Hardware Is Physical Software Is Virtual Firmware Is Virtual Extra: What is Wetware? When you're trying to solve a problem with a computer, the first thing you should try to do is determine if the problem is with the hardwareor with the software.How you make that determination depends on the issue you're experiencing, but it often involves ruling out one or the other through testing.Regardless of how you get tothatanswer, there's often much confusion when it comes to hardware versus software. Hardware vs Software vs Firmware: What's the Difference? GASREGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Windows 499 499 people found this article helpful Hardware vs.Software vs.Firmware: What's the Difference?Firmware, software, and hardware are differentbut how? By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience.He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. Hardware vs Software vs Firmware What s the Difference ![]()
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