<P> Computer hardware includes the physical , tangible parts or components of a computer , such as the central processing unit , monitor , keyboard , computer data storage , graphic card , sound card , speakers and motherboard . By contrast , software is instructions that can be stored and run by hardware . Hardware is so - termed because it is `` hard '' or rigid with respect to changes or modifications ; whereas software is `` soft '' because it can be easily updated or changed . Intermediate between software and hardware is `` firmware '' , which is software that is strongly coupled to the particular hardware of a computer system and thus the most difficult to change but also among the most stable with respect to consistency of interface . The progression from levels of `` hardness '' to `` softness '' in computer systems parallels a progression of layers of abstraction in computing . </P>
what are the basic component of the computer
central processing unit monitor keyboard computer data storage graphic card sound card speakers motherboard