💡Isn’t a Computer Just Wires?
Yes and no.
A computer is full of wires, chips, switches, and parts. That’s the hardware.
But here’s a big question:
“What makes all those parts actually do something?”
That’s where software comes in.
🧠 Software Is the Instructions
Imagine your computer is a robot.
You’ve built the robot body (that’s the hardware), but it won’t move unless you give it a list of things to do.
That list is called software.
So, software = the set of instructions that tell the computer what to do.
👀 Where Do You See Software?
Everywhere.
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When you open a web browser → software
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When you play a game → software
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When you draw, write, or listen to music → software
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Even the operating system (Windows, macOS, Android) = software
If the computer is the body, software is the brain’s to-do list.
🔌 Hardware vs. Software
Let’s compare them:
| Hardware | Software |
|---|---|
| Physical parts | Invisible instructions |
| You can touch it | You can’t touch it |
| Wires, chips, screen | Programs, games, apps |
| Always stays there | Can be deleted or added |
🧠 So What Happens When You Use Software?
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You click an icon
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The computer loads that app into memory (RAM)
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The CPU starts reading the instructions inside
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The instructions say things like:
“Draw this,” “Check this,” “Play that sound,” etc. -
The computer does it, fast