Computer skills
Hardware, Software, and the Operating System
Updated Oct 28, 2026
Hardware consists of physical components, such as the keyboard, screen and storage drive. Software consists of programs. An operating system manages the device and provides a way to open apps, manage
What you’ll learn
Learn and practise hardware, software, and the operating system.
Explanation
Hardware consists of physical components, such as the keyboard, screen and storage drive. Software consists of programs. An operating system manages the device and provides a way to open apps, manage files and change settings. Different devices may show different menus.
Hardware ជាផ្នែករឹងដូចជា keyboard និងអេក្រង់។ Software ជាកម្មវិធី។ ប្រព័ន្ធប្រតិបត្តិការគ្រប់គ្រងឧបករណ៍ និងផ្ដល់មុខងារបើកកម្មវិធី និងឯកសារ។
Worked example
A laptop screen is hardware; a word processor is software. Windows, macOS and Linux are examples of operating systems.
Practice
- Is a web browser hardware or software?
- Explain the same idea using your own example.
Answers and guidance
Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ
- Software. It is a program that runs on the device.
- Answers vary. Check your explanation against the lesson.
Quick recap
Hardware consists of physical components, such as the keyboard, screen and storage drive.