计算机硬件是人类处理运算与保存数据的重要组件，在能有效辅助数值运算之前，计算机硬件就已经具有不可或缺的重要性。最早，人类利用类似符木的工具辅助记录，像是腓尼基人使用黏土记录牲口或谷物数量，然后藏于容器妥善保存，米诺斯文明的出土文物也与此相似，当时的用户多为商人、会计师及政府官员。

辅助记数的工具之后逐渐发展成兼具记录与计算功能，诸如算盘、计算尺、模拟计算机和近代的数字电脑。即使在科技文明的现代，老练的算盘高手在基本算数上，有时解题速度会比操作电子计算机的用户来得快──但是在复杂的数学题目上，再怎么老练的人脑还是赶不上电子计算机的运算速度。

The history of computing hardware covers the developments from early simple devices to aid calculation to modern day computers.

Before the 20th century, most calculations were done by humans. Early mechanical tools to help humans with digital calculations were called "calculating machines", by proprietary names, or even as they are now, calculators. The machine operator was called the computer.