When talking about hardware such as Dell PowerEdge R540, information technology, the term is quickly associated with the parts and components that make up a computer — remembering that smartphones, video games, smart TVs, among other equipment, are also computers. However, did you know that there are different types of hardware on your device?

Within the computer’s complex physical and logical structure, even if we are talking about a small smartphone, each component has its specific function, whether to relate to the software or connect the machine to other devices.

In this sense, we have two definitions of hardware that we can understand as essential: internal and external. Internal hardware is part of the structure of your devices, such as a processor and RAM. In contrast, external hardware is everything that connects to complement the operation, such as a monitor, keyboard, and peripherals.

Based on this concept of internal and external hardware, other types of hardware help us better understand how the computer works and how a particular piece of equipment should be used. Discover the 4 main types of hardware that we refer to below.

1. Input Hardware

Input hardware, as the term itself suggests, is an external component, which is connected to the computer to add new functions or complement its working process. Some examples are:

• keyboard;
• Mouse;
• battery charger;
• MIC;
• touch screen etc.

Realize that features are brought from the outside to the inside; when the keyboard is installed, the computer receives information from it. The same happens with the other equipment mentioned.

2. Output Hardware

Output hardware, in turn, works similarly to input hardware. However, they are types of hardware that receive information from the computer. For example, when connected, the monitor receives data from the computer system and displays it to the user.

Output hardware examples:

• monitor;
• printer;
• Speakers;
• headphones, among others.

3. Processing Hardware

We understand processing hardware as all the equipment that contributes to the computer’s operation, therefore essential. For example, there is no way for a device to work without the processor, and there is no possibility of using it without specific hardware to run the video.

Examples of processing hardware are:

• processor;
• video card;
• audio card;
• power source etc.

4. Storage Hardware

Finally, storage hardware is all equipment that stores data, temporarily or permanently, directly from the computer, allowing the user to save files, run applications, and load information.

A typical example is the hard disk, the popular HD (hard disk) used to store the files downloaded by the user and the programs and operating systems installed on the computer. Other examples of storage hardware are:

• RAM memory;
• pen drive;
• external hard drive etc.