Hardware
lastmod 2026-05-18created 2014-01-1112 edits
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Hardware is a general term for the physical artifacts of technology. In the case of computer hardware, it can also mean the physical parts of a computer system. Historically, hardware meant the metal parts and fittings used to make wooden products stronger, more functional, longer-lasting, and easier to assemble. Today it refers especially to equipment made of metal, such as keys, locks, electrical cables, tools, and machine parts. In electronics, and especially in the computer industry, computer hardware means the physical, tangible parts of equipment, such as circuit boards, keyboards, and monitors. This contrasts with software, which is not physical. Hardware can also refer to military equipment such as tanks, ships, and aircraft.