Computer System Components

These components fall into four broad categories that serve different purposes in the information processing cycle.

Input: Components that help humans put data into the computer. Examples include a keyboard, mouse, and touch screen.

Processing: Components that move and process the data inside the computer. The motherboard and its processor and memory chips fall into this category.

Output: Components that provide the results of the processing to humans. The monitor is the primary output device; other examples include printers and speakers.

Storage: Components that store software and data until it is needed. Storage components include hard drives, USB flash drives, and DVDs.