Components

A computer system is mainly divided into two components. They are hardware and software. The term hardware refers to all the physical items associated with a computer system. However software is a set of instructions which enables the hardware to perform a specific task. The components of computer hardware responsible for processing are class ified as follows:(i)Input devices: - These devices allow the user us er to enter the program and data and send it to the processing unit. The common input devices are keyboard, mouse and scanners.

(ii)The central processing unit (CPU) has the electronic circuitry that manipulates input data into the information as required. The central processing unit actually executes computer instructions. (iii) Memory from which the CPU fetches the instructions and data i s called main memory. It is also known as primary memory and is volatile in nature. (iv)Output devices show the processed information which is received from the CPU. (v) The hardware devices are attached to the t he computer which is better known as peripheral equipments. Peripheral equipments include all input output and secondary storage devices. Computer Software:-

Software refers to the program or a set of instructions which help the computer to do any task. It may be further defined as the planned, st ep by step instructions which are required to turn data into information. Software can be classified i nto two categories. They are system software and application software.