KS2 Computing: Using Software and Devices Guide

Hardware vs software

Hardware is the physical parts of a computer you can touch, like the screen, keyboard and hard drive. Software is the programs and instructions that run on that hardware, like a web browser or a game.

Input and output devices

Input devices let you put information into a computer, such as a keyboard, mouse or microphone. Output devices let the computer show or produce results, such as a screen, printer or speaker.

Choosing the right tool

Different tasks suit different software — a word processor for writing, a spreadsheet for calculations, presentation software for slides — and part of digital literacy is picking the tool that best fits the task.

File types and storage

Files are saved in different formats depending on their content (documents, images, sound), and can be stored locally on a device or remotely, for example "in the cloud" on the internet.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up hardware and software — if you can physically touch it, it's hardware.
• Confusing input devices (putting information in) with output devices (showing results).
• Assuming cloud storage means files aren't stored on a physical device somewhere — they are, just on someone else's server.