Computer Hardware

A computer like human brain receives data and instructions, stores them and processes the data according to the instructions given to it. It receives data from input devices, stores them in memory and displays them through an output device. The physical devices that make up a computer are referred to as hardware. Computer hardware includes all the electrical, mechanical, and the electronic parts of a computer. Any part that we can see or touch is the hard ware.

Computer hardware can be classified into two categories :
1. CPU (Central Processing Unit)
2. Computer Peripherals


Central Processing Unit (CPU)
CPU is the brain of a computer. It has an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to perform arithmetical and logical operations. It has a control unit to co-ordinate the. aclivities of the CPU and main memory for primary storage.

Computer Peripherials
The input/output and storage devices surround the central processing unit (CPU). Hence, they are called the peripheral devices. They are usually the electromechanical devices connected to the CPU that exchange data and programs with the CPU. The users interact with the CPU through these devices. Thus, they act as interface between users and the CPU. The interaction is difficult because of the language barrier. The CPU uses machine language, which is difficult for most users. The input- output (1/0) devices help in taking the translated version of the input to the machine's memory and similarly, to render the processed symbols into the language of the user.

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