Hardware

The word software was first used in the late 1960s to emphasize on its difference from computer hardware, which can be physically observed by the user.

Firmware usually refers to a piece of software that directly controls a piece of hardware.

Computer hardware is the physical parts or components of a computer, such as the monitor, keyboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card and motherboard.

By contrast, software is instructions that can be stored and ran by hardware.

Hardware is directed by the software to execute any command or instruction.

A combination of hardware and software forms a usable computing system.

When using computer hardware, an upgrade means adding new hardware to a computer that improves its performance, adds capacity or new features.

For example, a user could perform a hardware upgrade to replace the hard drive with a SSD to get a boost in performance or increase the amount of files that may be stored.

Performing such hardware upgrades may be necessary for older computers to meet a program's system requirements.

Computer hardware contain dangerous chemicals such as: lead, mercury, nickel, and cadmium.

Making hardware requires energy, and recycling parts will reduce air pollution, water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.