In the world of technology, software and hardware are two terms that often come up. But what do they really mean and how do they work together? To understand this, let’s take a closer look.
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computing device. These include circuits, chips, wires, speakers, plugs, and other parts that you can see and touch. On the other hand, software refers to the computer programs and code that run on these devices. This includes apps, games, webpages, and even data science software used to analyze customer behavior.
So, how do hardware and software interact with each other? This begins with the computer’s central processing unit (CPU), which is the master chip that controls all the other parts of the computer. The CPU contains smaller, simpler parts that handle specific tasks such as circuits for simple math and logic, and circuits for sending and receiving information to and from different parts of the computer.
The CPU receives simple commands that tell it which circuit to use to perform a specific task. For example, an “add” command tells the CPU to use its outer circuit to calculate a new number, while a “store” command tells the CPU to save that result into memory. All of these commands can be represented in binary code, which is the most basic form of software and controls all the hardware of a computer.
These days, software is written in programming languages that look more like English, rather than binary code. These higher level commands are converted into simpler binary commands that the CPU can understand. When you’re listening to music, browsing the web, and chatting with a friend, your computer is running multiple pieces of software all at once. This is made possible by the operating system, which is the master program that manages how software gets to use the hardware of the computer.
The operating system is responsible for managing the software that controls the computer’s hardware. It lets you install new programs, decides which program is run by the CPU, and determines whether a program can access the computer’s input and output devices. When you think your computer is running many programs at once, it’s actually the operating system that’s quickly switching between programs sharing the CPU for fractions of a second.
In conclusion, computers have the potential to do all kinds of amazing things, but it’s only when you learn to code that you can define the problem you want to solve and write the software that turns those ideas into reality. Whether it’s building something that matters to you, your community, or the world, the power is in your hands.