Definition of hardware in computer terms

Computer hardware is the collection of physical parts of a computer system. This includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It also includes all the parts inside the computer case, such as the hard disk drive, motherboard, video card, and many others.

Here is some common hardware that you’ll find inside a computer:

    Motherboard
    Central Processing Unit (CPU)
    Random Access Memory (RAM)
    Power Supply
    Video Card
    Hard Drive
    Optical Drive (i.e. BD/DVD/CD drive)
    Sound Card
    Network Interface Card (NIC)
    Analog Modem
    FireWire/USB Expansion Card

Here is some common hardware that you might find connected to the outside of a computer:

    Keyboard
    Mouse
    Printer
    Scanner
    Speakers
    Monitor

The following hardware is referred to as network hardware and various pieces are often part of a home or business network:

    Router
    Network Switch
    Access Point
    Repeater
    Bridge
    Print Server
    Firewall