What is the difference between hardware and software?

The distinction between hardware and software is foundational to understanding how computing systems operate. Hardware refers to the tangible, physical components of a computer system—these include devices such as the motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drives, and peripherals like keyboards and monitors. These components are essential as they perform the actual processing, storage, and interaction functions necessary for computing tasks.

On the other hand, software consists of the programs and applications that run on the hardware. This includes operating systems, application software, and various utilities that instruct the hardware on what tasks to perform and how to execute them. Software cannot function independently without hardware, as it requires the physical components to execute its commands.

The other choices present inaccuracies about the definitions of hardware and software. For example, equating hardware solely with internet connections or suggesting that hardware is unnecessary misrepresents these concepts. Ultimately, understanding that hardware encompasses the physical aspects while software pertains to the programs that utilize those components is crucial for grasping the broader landscape of technology.