The equipments like tools, keys, locks, chains and all the other equipments that are made up of metals and are used in mechanical processes like repairing or maintenance in the process of dealing with machines. With hardware people are sometimes confused between hardware and computer hardware. But there is a major difference between hardware and computer hardware.

What is computer hardware?
All those components of computer system that are tangible and on which either input could be given (like keyboard and mouse etc.) or output could be received (like monitor and printer etc.) are known as computer hardware. These hardware components of computer system themselves do not generate instructions but process the instructions generated by either software or user.

Computer hardware is only a subset of word hardware that is when we say computer hardware we only mean the hardware used in computer system but if we say only hardware we mean all the hardware that can be used in any machine. Computer hardware includes following parts in computer system like: keyboard, mouse, floppy drive, hard disk, CD Drive, printer, RAM etc.
But do the hardware alone makes the computer system not it is wrong. A computer system with hardware and without software is life less that means it is same as like a skeleton without life. To make a computer system fully functional software is essential with the hardware. The very basic software that is required for making computer to work in a friendly manner and making it to support all the user activities is operating system.

What is Operating System?
In a layman language operating system is the software that brings life to computer system. Operating system itself does not do any thing but provides an environment in which other software programs could execute. It provides an interface between the user and the computer hardware. It directs the user to operate on the computer. It provides guidelines to user on how to work on computer. Operating system is the software that makes other hardware work in an efficient manner.

The field of hardware and software has also become the career for new generation and has very wide prospects in this field. People who wanted them to be established as hardware or software engineers can complete their degree or diploma course from any reputed institution and start their career with the established organization or can if they are willing to be entrepreneurs they can start their own company working in this field.