Which of the following best describes hardware?

The correct answer describes hardware as the physical components of a computer. This includes elements like the motherboard, processor, RAM, hard drives, and peripherals such as keyboards and mice. Hardware refers to any tangible parts that you can physically touch and see, as opposed to software, which consists of the programs and applications that run on these physical devices.

In the context of computing, understanding the distinction between hardware and other types of technology is essential. For example, while options that mention programs and data, software controlling functions, and virtual environments are integral to how a computer operates, they fall under the category of software rather than hardware. This highlights the importance of recognizing the foundational role that hardware plays in the overall functionality of a computer system.