Hardware: The Physical Components of a Computer System

Hardware refers to the physical components or devices of a computer system that can be touched or seen. It includes the tangible parts of a computer, such as the central processing unit (CPU), motherboard, memory modules, storage devices (hard drive, solid-state drive), graphics card, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals. Hardware is essential for the functioning and operation of a computer system and is distinct from software, which consists of the programs, applications, and data that run on the hardware.