Components of a Computer System

Components of a Computer System

Definitions-

Hardware- Hardware is the physical parts of a computer and related devices. Internal hardware devices include motherboards, hard drives and RAM. External hardware devices include monitors, keyboards, mice, printers and scanners.

Software- Computer software is a general term that describes computer programs, often broken into two major categories; system software and application software. System software provides the basic non-task specific functions of the computer whereas application software is used to accomplish specific tasks.

Input Device- This is a machine that feeds data into a computer. For example, a keyboard is an input device. Input devices other than the keyboard are called alternate input devices. Mice, trackballs and light pens are all alternate input devices. 

Storage Device- A computer storage device is any type of hardware that stores data. The most common type of storage device, which nearly all computers have, is a hard drive. Whilst the hard drive is the most common storage device, others include USB sticks, floppy disks and SD cards. There are many more than these examples. 

Output Device- Any device that outputs information from a computer is called an output device. Since most information from a computer is output in either a visual or auditory format, the most common output devices are the monitor and speakers. Other examples include printers and projectors.

Purposes-

Input Devices- The purpose of an input device is to input information into a computer. For example, a keyboard inputs information into the computer. Without input devices, a computer would only be able to display devices and not allow users to interact with it.

Storage Devices- The purpose of a storage device is to store data. For example, a hard drive stores data internally and a USB stick stores data externally.

Output Devices- Output devices output information created by the computer. For example, a monitor displays data that the computer has processed. 

Roles and Functions of System Software and Applications Software-

System Software- Software refers to the programs that we run on our computer systems. It allows the hardware to do something useful. Without software, the hardware wouldn't know what it was supposed to do. Software is made up of a series of of instructions or computer code. It is these instructions which tell the hardware that it needs to print a document, save a file or display a web page for example.

Applications Software- Application software is all the computer software that causes a computer to perform useful tasks beyond the running of the computer itself. For example, the Microsoft Office programs.