Computer Hardware

Computer hardware represents the physical technologies, the infrastructure that enables the processing, and other functionalities that modern devices provide. Advances in computer hardware are part-and-parcel to the growth and proliferation of computing overall.

Below are common elements integral to the operation of computer systems:

Computer Hardware

CPU
Central Processing Unit (CPU) is used to describe the electrical circuitry in a computer responsible for executing instruction sets derived from programs that have been converted into machine code. CPUs sit at the heart of the system of a computer and are connected to the motherboard. They also have caches which act as memory units capable of temporary storage and quick retrieval of files by the computer.
Processor
A processor is the electric circuitry found in computer hardware which is responsible for executing instruction sets derived from programs that have been converted into machine code.
RAM
RAM is an acronym for Random Access Memory, which is a mechanism for storing and retrieving information in random memory units as opposed to other formats that store data in specific memory locations.

Contributors

Interested in helping build Docs? Read the Contribution Guide or share your thoughts in this feedback form.

Learn More on Codecademy

Contributors