AQA · GCSE · Computer Science
Course version: 8525 · Version from Sept 2020
Define the terms hardware and software and understand the relationship…
Full specification wording
Hardware and software: Define the terms hardware and software and understand the relationship between them.
Hardware is the physical components of a computer system that can be touched, such as the processor, memory, storage devices, input devices and output devices.
Checked against the AQA 8525 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Hardware is the physical components of a computer system that can be touched, such as the processor, memory, storage devices, input devices and output devices. Software is the set of instructions, programs and data that tell the hardware what to do; it cannot be physically touched. The relationship is that hardware provides the physical capability to execute instructions, while software provides the instructions that control the hardware. Without software, hardware is inert; without hardware, software has nothing to run on. For example, a word processor (software) sends instructions to the CPU and memory (hardware) to display text on a monitor (hardware). Learners should be able to classify examples as hardware or software and explain how they work together.
What earns the marks
- Defines hardware as the physical components of a computer system.
- Defines software as the programs or instructions that run on hardware.
- States that hardware can be touched, whereas software cannot.
- Explains that software controls hardware by providing instructions.
- Explains that hardware executes the instructions provided by software.
- Gives an example of hardware and an example of software.
- Describes the interdependence: hardware needs software to be useful, and software needs hardware to run.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing hardware with software.
Put it right: For example, thinking that an operating system is hardware because it is essential, when it is software.
Believing that software is stored permanently in hardware and therefore is hardware.
Put it right: Software is stored on hardware but remains a set of instructions.
Saying that hardware can be downloaded or installed.
Put it right: Only software can be installed, while hardware is physically connected or fitted.
Failing to explain the relationship, only giving definitions without stating how they interact.
Exam tips
- Use the touch test: if you can physically touch it, it is hardware; if it is a program or data, it is software.
- Remember that firmware is software stored on hardware, but it is still software.
- When explaining the relationship, use a concrete example such as a game (software) running on a console (hardware).
- Be precise with terminology: 'hardware' and 'software' are not interchangeable.
Try the lesson
The start of the Hardware and software: Define the terms hardware and software and understand the relationship between them. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of these best describes the physical parts of a computer system that you can touch, such as the keyboard and the screen?
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