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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Computer vocabulary looks harder than it is. Most terms fall into a few groups: the physical parts (hardware), the programs that run on them (software), the pieces that think and remember (CPU, RAM, storage), and the words for getting online. Below, each term gets a short definition and a familiar example, with the commonly confused pairs set side by side.
Parts you can touch
Computer
An electronic device that processes information by following instructions. A desktop, a laptop, a tablet and a phone all qualify.
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Hardware
The physical parts of a computer system: screen, keyboard, processor, storage device. If you can pick it up, it is hardware. The Open University’s introductory computer systems glossary uses the same hardware/software split.
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A device connected to a computer to add input, output or storage. Keyboards, mice, printers and external drives are common examples.
Input device and output device
The test is direction. An input device sends information to the computer (keyboard, mouse, microphone, camera). An output device presents results from it (screen, speaker, printer). A touchscreen does both.
Display or monitor
The screen that shows what the computer is doing. Microsoft’s guide to common PC terms notes that size, resolution (how many pixels make up the picture) and touch support all affect how a display is used.
Programs and control
Software
Programs and instructions, as opposed to physical parts. You can’t touch it, but it tells the hardware what to do.
Operating system (OS)
The software that manages the computer’s resources and provides common services to other programs. Familiar examples are Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android and Linux distributions. Not every OS runs on every device. Formal wording varies by source; NIST’s glossary collects several definitions from different publications.
Application (app)
Software that helps you do a task, such as writing, browsing or playing music. A web browser and a word processor are apps; the OS is what they run on.
File
A named collection of digital information: a document, photo, song or program. A file is not the app that opens it. A .docx file is the letter; the word processor is the tool for reading it.
Firmware
Software stored inside a device that controls its basic operation, such as in a router or printer. You rarely interact with it except during updates.
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Processing and memory
CPU (central processing unit, or processor)
The main general-purpose chip that carries out instructions and coordinates work. Microsoft calls it the computer’s “brain,” which is an analogy: it follows instructions rather than thinking.
RAM (random access memory)
Fast, temporary working space used while programs are running. Microsoft describes it as short-term memory. Think of a desk: the more open desk space, the more things you can work on at once. Clear the desk (shut down) and what was on it is gone unless you saved it.
Storage
Where files and programs are kept, including when the power is off. Think of the filing cabinet.
SSD and HDD
Two types of storage drive. A solid-state drive (SSD) and a hard disk drive (HDD) do the same job but differ in technology, cost and performance, per Microsoft. Which suits you depends on the use and the specific model. Neither is RAM.
GPU (graphics processing unit)
A processor specialized for graphics-related work such as graphics, effects and video. Some computers have graphics built in, and others add a separate graphics card; many everyday users don’t need the latter.
NPU (neural processing unit)
A term from newer device listings, also covered in Microsoft’s list of common terms. It refers to a processor aimed at certain AI-related workloads.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Commonly confused pairs
| Pair | The difference | Everyday picture |
|---|---|---|
| RAM vs. storage | Temporary working space vs. long-term keeping of files and apps | Desk vs. filing cabinet |
| Memory vs. storage | “Memory” usually means RAM, but people sometimes use it for storage, so check the context or the number’s label | “16 GB memory” in a listing normally means RAM |
| SSD vs. HDD | Two storage technologies, differing in cost and performance | Two kinds of filing cabinet |
| CPU vs. GPU | General instruction processing vs. graphics-focused processing; neither is simply “more important” | A general manager vs. a specialist |
| Input vs. output | Sends information in vs. presents information out | Keyboard vs. screen |
| Hardware vs. software | Physical equipment vs. programs | A music player vs. the songs and app on it |
| App vs. file | The tool vs. what it opens | Word processor vs. letter |
Getting online
Internet words are best learned as separate entries. The Internet Society’s glossary and Intel’s educational glossary are good places to look up more precise definitions.
- Internet: the worldwide system of connected networks that devices use to exchange data.
- Website: a collection of pages you visit online.
- Browser: the app you use to open websites.
- Search engine: a service that helps you find pages. You usually reach one through a browser.
- Wi-Fi: a wireless way to connect a device to a network.
- Router: the device that connects your home devices to each other and to the internet.
These words are related but not interchangeable. Wi-Fi is a way of connecting, so a device can be on Wi-Fi with no working internet connection.
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