Hardware vs. Software

Ever wonder what the difference is between hardware and software?
The hardware on your computer is the physical devices or physical pieces of your computer. Hardware can include the hard drive, optical drive, logic board, battery, ram, keyboard, fan, and screen.
In contrast, the software includes the programs that actually run on the computer. Software can be seen but cannot be physically touched. Software can include programs, algorithms, and procedures that make your computer run by talking to the hardware and telling it what to do. Some examples of software include the operating system, Mail, iCal, and Word.