<P> Computer hardware includes the physical parts or components of a computer, such as the central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, computer data storage, graphic card, sound card, speakers and motherboard . By contrast, software is instructions that can be stored and run by hardware . Hardware is so - termed because it is "hard" or rigid with respect to changes or modifications; whereas software is "soft" because it can be easily updated or changed . Intermediate between software and hardware is "firmware", which is software that is strongly coupled to the particular hardware of a computer system and thus the most difficult to change but also among the most stable with respect to consistency of interface . </P> <P> Hardware is directed by the software to execute any command or instruction . A combination of hardware and software forms a usable computing system . </P>

The physical part of a computer are called