A hard copy is a physical copy of a digital document file that is printed on paper or other material like transparency. The output is printed on the paper and sometimes referred to as a permanent copy. Hard copies are tangible and can be touched, and examples include newspapers, books, notebooks, and printed document files. Advantages of hard copies include durability and accessibility. Hard copy documents are resistant to damage from electronic failures or power outages and can be stored for long periods of time. Hard copy documents can be read by anyone with access to the document, without requiring a computer or other electronic device.
A soft copy, on the other hand, is an electronic copy of some type of data, such as a file viewed on a computers display or transmitted as an email attachment. Soft copies are digital and require electronic devices for access. Soft copies can be viewed on a computer screen, sent as an email attachment, or printed out as a hard copy. Soft copies can also be edited and shared with others easily. Examples of soft copies include text files, images, and videos.
In summary, the main difference between hard copy and soft copy is that hard copies are physical and tangible, while soft copies are digital and require electronic devices for access.
