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HARDWARE AND
SOFTWARE
Prepared by:
MR. CHRISTIAN B. PATRICIO, LPT
SUBJECT PROFESSOR
 A computer system consists of hardware, the physical unit (parts) of the
computer that are capable of computing and manipulating information and
software (set of instructions or programs) that carries out predefined tasks to
complete a given job. The computer performs operations like addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division only when the user instructs it to do
so. The user issues instructions and the CPU acts in accordance with the
instructions. The sets of instructions, which control the sequence of
operations, are known as programs, and collectively programs are called
software.
COMPONENTS OF HARDWARE
I. Input unit: This unit accepts instructions and data.

II. Output unit: This unit communicates the results to the user.
III. Storage unit: This unit stores temporary and final results.
IV. Central Processing Unit (CPU): This unit performs processing of instructions
and data inside the computer.
THE CPU HAS THREE COMPONENTS:
a) The Control Unit

b) The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and
c) The Memory Unit.
a) The Control Unit - it controls the overall operation of the computer system. It is
considered as the heart of the computer system. It controls all the other units,
directs them to operate in a proper way and co-ordinates various operations
performed.
It instructs the input device to transfer the data and instructions to the main
memory and then to the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU). Then, it sends the
processed result from ALU to the memory unit for storage and transfers it to the
visual display unit or to the ' printer.
To perform its control operations effectively and quickly, the control unit
has four basic components. They are
(a) Instruction Register
(b) Decoder
(c) Address Register and
(d) Instruction Counter
b) The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - his unit performs two kinds of operations,
the arithmetic processing and logical processing. In arithmetic processing it
performs all mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. In logical processing, it performs the relational and
logical operations such as comparing larger or smaller values, true or false
statements, etc.
c) Memory Unit - This unit holds the intermediate results during the course of
calculations and provides the data as and when required. This internal storage is
also called primary memory or main memory. This memory takes the data from
an input device and stores it until the computer is ready to process it. It also
stores processed data and intermediate results. When the processing is finished,
it transfers the results to an output device.
SOFTWARE
Software is a generic term for organized collection of computer data and

instructions. It is responsible for controlling, integrating, and managing the
hardware components of a computer and to accomplish specific tasks. In other
words, software tells the computer what to do and how to do it. For example,
software instructs the hardware what to display on the user’s screen, what kinds
of input to take from the user, and what kinds of output to generate. Thus,
software communicates with the hardware by organizing the control sequences,
and the hardware carries out the instructions defined by the software.
FEATURES OF SOFTWARE
1. Ease of use
The software systems and applications are becoming more and more easy
to use. In fact, software developers and system analysts go to great lengths to
ensure that the products they develop are user-friendlier than their competitor’s
products.
2. Graphical user interface (GUI)
GUI or graphical user interface has now become the default standard for
most of the software applications. Today’s software applications and products
provide the users with perceptive, graphical and easy-to-use interfaces. Now the
users do not have to remember the cryptic system commands or shortcut keys
that were a must in the character based era. Now almost any task can be
accomplished by a mouse click.
3. Multi-platform capability
Today’s software applications are not developed for just one platform.
Most of the software applications supports multiple platforms-both hardware and
software platforms. There are software applications that support hardware
platforms ranging from mainframes to PCs and different software platforms like
MVS, Solaris, AIX, UNIX, Windows and so on. Another important feature of
today’s software application is that they support multiple languages and multiple
currencies. Many vendors are providing their applications in many languages
like English, Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese and so on.
4. Compatibility with other software

Now the competition for each market segment in the software marketplace is
rather fierce. We have many software vendors battling for the market share in
the same segment. For example, Microsoft Word 2000 supports all previous
versions of Work like Word 97, Word 6, Word and so on. The two features –
compatibility with earlier versions and compatibility with other products make it
easier for the users, as they can choose the application they want and still use the
old files they have created using other applications or using older versions of the
same application.
5. Mail enabling
Mail enabled applications are designed to take advantage of on e-mail. These are
the familiar word processors, spreadsheets, and other individual desktop
applications that have email features built to them. There is another class of
message-centered programs that are built specifically around e-mail functions.
6. Web enabling
With the ever-increasing popularity of internet and the amount of information
that is available on the net, most software applications are now web-enabled.
Web enabling helps the user in many different ways. Its use starts while the user
is installing the application. During installation, most of the applications will
automatically connect to the Internet and to the vendor’s web site and will
register their products (earlier one had to fill in a paper form and mail or fax it to
the vendor).
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
HARDWARE SOFTWARE
1.It is the physical unit of the computer 1.It is a collection of programs to bring
2. It has permanent structure and the hardware system into operation
cannot be altered 2. It has no permanent structure but can
3. It is normally affected by agent like be altered and reused
dust, heat, humidity, etc 3. It is not affected by these agents to
4. Hardware understands only machine some extent
language ,lower level language or 4. It is written by a well versed
binary programmer and generally in higher
5. It works with binary code, the level language which is readable by
presence or absence of Pulses as 1’s or human being
0’s. 5. It is represented by the Higher Level
Languages such as BASIC, COBOL, Etc.,
LET US SUM UP
1. Hard ware is the physical component of the computer, and soft ware is the
instruction given to the components to perform certain operations.
2. Soft ware consists of certain features like ease of use, Graphical user interface
(GUI). Multiplatform capability, Compatibility with other software, Mail
enabling, Web enabling
3. Certain differences existing between hard ware and soft ware have been
discussed.
ACTIVITY 2 / ASSESSMENT
A. Classify the following into hardware and software?

i). Spread Sheet ii). Mouse iii). Data base iv). Scanner
B. What is hardware?
C. What are the functions performed by CPU?
D. Discuss in detail about the features of software?.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!

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HARDWARE AND

I. Input unit: This unit accepts instructions and data.

a) The Control Unit

Software is a generic term for organized collection of computer data and

4. Compatibility with other software

A. Classify the following into hardware and software?

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