Overview
Computer hardware can be classified into four broad categories based on the function each component performs.
1. Input Devices
An input device is a hardware device used to feed data into the computer for analysis, storage and to give commands to the computer. Examples include the keyboard, mouse, joystick, microphone and digital camera.
2. Output Devices
Output devices are hardware components used to retrieve information from the computer. They provide the results of computations to the user in a way they can understand. Examples include the monitor, printer, speaker and projector.
3. Storage Devices
A computer system incorporates a storage unit to store the input entered through the input unit before processing starts, and to store the results produced by the computer before supplying them to the output unit.
4. Processing Devices
These are devices that execute instructions and carry out calculations. Example: the CPU (Central Processing Unit).
