Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Agribusiness Practice Test

What does computer hardware refer to?

1. The software applications installed on a computer

2. The components that make up your computer system

3. The peripherals used for input and output

4. The network connections used by the computer

The correct answer is: The components that make up your computer system

Computer hardware refers to the physical components that constitute a computer system. This includes the central processing unit (CPU), motherboard, memory (RAM), hard drives, graphics cards, and other internal parts that work together to perform computing tasks. It encompasses everything tangible that you can physically touch and interact with within a computer. Understanding this concept is essential because it differentiates hardware from software, which includes operating systems and applications that run on these physical components. Components such as input devices (like keyboards and mice) and output devices (like monitors and printers) are also involved in the computer system but are specifically referred to as peripherals, which are not synonymous with the entire hardware definition. Therefore, when identifying what computer hardware encompasses, it specifically means all the core components that enable the system to operate, making the choice highlighting these components the correct understanding.