How is hardware defined in the context of computer fundamentals?

In the context of computer fundamentals, hardware is defined as the physical components of a computer. This includes all the tangible parts that make up a computer system, such as the central processing unit (CPU), memory (RAM), storage drives (such as hard drives or SSDs), the motherboard, graphics card, and peripheral devices like keyboards and mice. Unlike software, which consists of the programs and applications that run on the computer, hardware refers specifically to the physical machinery required for a computer to operate and perform tasks. Understanding that hardware encompasses all these physical components is crucial, as it helps in grasping how they work together to execute software instructions and perform computational tasks.