Hardware Directory

Hardware normally refers to the metal goods and utensils such as locks, tools, and cutlery. Hardware term is also used in a computer and the associated physical equipment directly involved in the performance of data-processing or communications functions. Machines and other physical equipment directly involved in performing an industrial, technological, or military function.

In operation, a computer is both hardware and software. One is useless without the other. The hardware design specifies the commands it can follow, and the instructions tell it what to do. The more memory and disk storage a computer has the more work it can do. The faster the memory and disks transfer data and instructions to the CPU, the faster the work gets done. A hardware requirement is based on the size of the databases that will be created and the number of users or applications that will be served the same time.