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Computer hardware is the tangible equipment and physical components that make up or connect to a computer system. Its common functional types are input, processing, memory and storage, output, and communications hardware; a second useful way to group components is as internal parts or external peripherals. These categories can overlap: a touchscreen, for example, accepts input and displays output.
What is computer hardware?
Hardware is the physical part of a computer system: components you can touch, whether they are installed inside a computer or connected to it. Section508.gov defines hardware in its glossary as “a tangible device, piece of equipment, or physical component of ICT,” with computers and keyboards among its examples.
Software is different: it consists of the programs and instructions that tell hardware what to do. A computer needs both. A word processor is software; the processor, memory, keyboard, and screen it uses are hardware.
The categories below describe what components do, rather than assigning every part to one exclusive box. Taxonomies vary slightly: some group memory and storage together, while others treat them separately or list additional device families such as cooling and power.
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What are the main types of computer hardware?
Input devices
Input hardware lets a person or another system provide data or commands to a computer. Common examples include:
- Keyboard: enters text, numbers, and commands.
- Mouse: controls a pointer and selects items on screen.
- Scanner: captures paper documents or images as digital data.
- Camera: captures still images or video.
- Microphone: captures sound.
- Touchscreen: detects taps or gestures as input.
Some input devices are built into a laptop or phone; others connect as external peripherals. The South African Department of Basic Education’s Hardware in a Nutshell and IBM’s computer hardware overview describe familiar input examples such as keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, and microphones.
Processing components
Processing hardware executes instructions and performs calculations. The central processing unit (CPU) is the computer’s main general-purpose processor and coordinates much of its work. It does not perform every task alone: modern computers divide work among multiple components.
A graphics processing unit (GPU) specializes in graphics and other visual computation. It may be integrated into a system or installed as a separate card. Which arrangement is appropriate depends on the computer and the workload.
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Memory and storage both hold data, but they serve different purposes:
- RAM (random-access memory) is temporary working memory for data and programs currently in use. The CPU can access it while carrying out tasks, but it is not where a computer normally keeps files for long-term use.
- Drives retain files and applications over time. Hard disk drives (HDDs) store data on spinning magnetic disks; solid-state drives (SSDs) use nonvolatile flash memory.
SSDs are generally described as faster, more durable, and more energy-efficient than HDDs, but that broad comparison is not a guarantee for every drive or workload. When choosing storage, compare capacity, interface and form factor, performance, and cost for the computer and tasks involved.
Output devices
Output hardware presents a computer’s results to a person or another system. Examples include:
- Monitor: displays text, images, and video.
- Printer: produces a physical copy of digital material.
- Speakers or headphones: play audio.
- Projector: displays an image on a larger surface.
A component can have more than one function. A touchscreen is both an input device and an output display; some peripherals likewise combine input and output.
Communications and networking hardware
Networking hardware lets computers and other devices communicate over a network. Examples include:
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- Network interface card (NIC): provides a computer with a wired or wireless network connection.
- Router: directs network traffic between networks, commonly connecting a home network to the internet.
- Switch: connects devices on a local network and forwards traffic between them.
These parts are classified by their communications role, but they can also be described by where they are installed: a network interface may be internal, while a router is typically a separate device.
What is the difference between internal hardware and peripherals?
Functional categories answer “What does this component do?” Internal and external categories answer “Where is it, and how does it connect?” They are complementary ways to organize hardware, not competing lists.
- Internal hardware is installed inside a computer or device. Common examples include the CPU, system board (motherboard), RAM, storage drives, and a GPU.
- External hardware, or peripherals, connects from outside the computer to add or extend functions. Keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, and external drives are examples.
Not every external device is an input or output device: external storage and networking equipment serve other functions. Likewise, internal components can perform processing, storage, networking, or other roles. Microsoft’s Windows hardware classes groups device families by functions that include input, storage, networking, video, cooling, and power.
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How should you compare hardware components?
Start with the job the component needs to do, then check that it fits the system and the user. Category names alone do not establish that two parts are interchangeable or compatible.
- For storage: compare capacity, interface and form factor, performance needs, and cost.
- For input or output peripherals: compare the intended task, connection type, compatibility, and accessibility needs.
- For a CPU or GPU: consider the workload, platform compatibility, and performance requirements.
Compatibility depends on the particular computer and component, so verify the relevant specifications before buying or installing hardware.
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