Computer hardware is the physical part of a computer, including the digital circuitry, as distinguished from the computer software that executes within the hardware. Memory chips, mice, monitors, and keyboards are all hardware.

Software is the information stored on the computer, so programs and data are considered to be software. Basically, if you can email it to someone, it's software. Computer software is so called in contrast to computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software.

Computer technology is employed in nearly every facet of modern society. Many software programs used in industry are proprietary, which means they are designed for a specific function. This differs from computers that are generally multi-purpose, with many different kinds of software programs for various tasks.

Hardware is the nuts and bolts of a computer; the parts you can touch. Software is the program that contains the instructions that tell a computer what to do. Hardware without software is like a lamp without electricity; all the parts are there, but nothing's working! Every computer, therefore, needs software. That software can be obtained in one of three ways. It can be:

* Pre-installed on the computer.
* Purchased on a CD.
* Downloaded from the Internet.

Not every computer needs the same software, of course. The software you need depends on what you want your computer to do. Hardware and software are constantly improving in a kind of leapfrog fashion. Hardware is most often the bottleneck when it comes to data transfer speeds, or how fast a software program can work. Therefore, as hardware improves, it becomes capable of running more robust software programs. Old hardware from just ten years ago may not run current software, as the software might be designed to take advantage of hardware in ways that older hardware cannot support.

For this reason, when shopping for software, the buyer should check the specifications for recommended minimal hardware requirements. The central processing unit (CPU) of a computer is nearly always mentioned, as this hardware is responsible for the overall speed of the computer, generally speaking. The amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) is another factor, and graphics capability or video card requirements might also be mentioned.

If you would like to purchase software but are not sure what hardware you have, most operating systems have a built-in program for displaying hardware and software system information. In Windows XP, navigate by clicking the Start button, then All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and System Information. You may want to print the initial system summary page, then click on the appropriate heading in the tree to the left to see new information displayed on the right. For example, click on "Components" then "Display" to see details about the video card in your computer.

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Vinay Choubey