A computer is an electronic machine that can process, retrieve, and store data. It is used to surf the internet, send emails, work, play games, and communicate. The basic components of a computer are the central processing unit (CPU), memory, motherboard, hard drive, random access memory (RAM), graphic card, and sound card. The CPU is often called the "brain" of the computer as it executes instructions. Hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer while software refers to programs and operating systems.