What are the two parts that make up a computer system?
Understand the difference between hardware and software, and the relationship between them in a computer system.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Computer Science 3.4.1, covering the difference between hardware and software and the relationship between them in a computer system.
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What this dot point is asking
AQA wants you to explain the difference between hardware and software, give examples of each, and describe how they depend on each other in a computer system.
Hardware
Hardware on its own is inert: a CPU with no program loaded does nothing. The hardware defines what the machine is physically capable of (how fast, how much memory, what devices are attached), but it needs instructions before it does anything useful.
Software
Software is intangible: it is a sequence of instructions stored as binary, loaded into memory and executed by the CPU. The same hardware can do completely different jobs depending on which software is run, which is what makes a computer a general-purpose machine rather than a single-task device.
How they work together
System software and application software
Software itself splits into two categories that AQA expects you to separate. System software manages the computer and provides a platform for other programs: it includes the operating system, utility programs (such as backup and defragmentation tools) and device drivers (small programs that let the operating system control a particular piece of hardware). Application software is the programs a user runs to do a task, such as a word processor, web browser, spreadsheet or game. The distinction is about purpose: system software runs the machine, application software does the user's work. A web browser is application software even though it relies on system software (the operating system and network drivers) underneath it.
A worked classification
Consider a laptop running a video call. The webcam, microphone, screen and processor are hardware. The operating system and the webcam driver are system software, managing the hardware so other programs can use it. The video-call program the user clicked on is application software. All three layers are needed at once: the application asks the operating system for the camera, the operating system uses the driver to control the hardware, and the hardware captures the picture. This shows the dependence the exam wants you to describe, with the operating system acting as the bridge between application software and hardware.
Try this
Q1. State the difference between hardware and software. [2 marks]
- Cue. Hardware is the physical parts you can touch; software is the programs and data that run on the hardware.
Q2. Give one example of hardware and one example of software. [2 marks]
- Cue. Hardware: CPU, keyboard or monitor. Software: operating system or web browser.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20184 marksExplain the difference between hardware and software, and describe the relationship between them in a computer system.Show worked answer →
Hardware is the physical parts of a computer that can be touched, such as the CPU, RAM, hard drive, keyboard and monitor. Software is the programs and data that run on the hardware and instruct it what to do, such as the operating system and applications.
The relationship is one of mutual dependence: hardware provides the physical machine but can do nothing useful without software to control it, and software provides the instructions but needs hardware to run on. The operating system is the software that manages the hardware so applications can use it.
Markers reward a clear definition of each (physical versus instructions), an example of each, and an explicit statement of dependence, not just two separate lists.
AQA 20203 marksA student says the operating system is hardware. Explain why this is incorrect, and classify the CPU and a web browser as either hardware or software.Show worked answer →
The operating system is software, not hardware, because it is a set of programs (instructions and data), not a physical component you can touch. It happens to control hardware, but controlling hardware does not make it hardware.
The CPU is hardware (a physical chip). A web browser is software (an application program).
Markers reward the correct correction (software is instructions, hardware is physical), and the two correct classifications.
Related dot points
- Understand the purpose and components of the CPU, the fetch-execute cycle, and the factors that affect CPU performance.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Computer Science 3.4.3, covering the purpose and components of the CPU, the fetch-execute cycle, and the factors that affect CPU performance.
- Understand the difference between RAM and ROM, the purpose of each, and the need for virtual memory and cache.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Computer Science 3.4.4, covering the difference between RAM and ROM, the purpose of each, and the need for virtual memory and cache.
- Understand the role of the operating system and its functions, and the purpose of common utility software.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Computer Science 3.4.6, covering the role and functions of the operating system and the purpose of common utility software.
- Understand the AND, OR and NOT logic gates, construct and interpret truth tables, and build and read simple logic circuits.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Computer Science 3.4.2, covering the AND, OR and NOT logic gates, constructing and interpreting truth tables, and building and reading simple logic circuits.
Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525) specification — AQA (2020)