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Difference Between Hard Copy And Soft Copy

Learn about the difference between hard copy and soft copy. And in detail about the what is hard copy and what is soft copy. Read now.

Krati Saraswat18 Sept, 2023

Difference between hard copy and soft copy: Information and data play an important role in today’s world. Ideas, knowledge, or viewpoints are exchanged through various modes before arriving at the final stop. Basically, they are transferred in two forms i. Hard Copy and Soft Copy.

In this blog, we have discussed the major difference between hard copy and soft copy along with defining the terms what is hard copy and soft copy in a detailed manner. Read the article for more information.

What is a Hard Copy?

A hard copy means a printed version of a digital file on paper or any other material. In the hard copy, the output/text/content is printed on paper and is also sometimes known as the permanent copy.
It implies the user can easily touch a hard copy. Some of the common examples of hard copies are images, drawings, photographs, text, or any printable documents.
Furthermore, hard copies play a pivotal role in the digital world for numerous reasons. If anyone loses or destroys their digital files, then they use hard copies as backups. Moreover, it is easy to manage and distribute hard copies.

What is a Soft Copy?

A soft copy is the electronic version of a file that is saved online on a computer/drive. It is a digital form of any document which is not printed on paper or any other material.
This means the user can easily view and edit the soft copy of the document with the help of the software programs. Some examples of software programs are presentation software, database programs, processing programs, etc depending on the type of document.
The output of a soft copy file is saved in computers, USB drives, etc, and is popularly known as the temporary copy or virtual copy of a document/file. Furthermore, no one can touch the soft copy as it is virtual in nature.
Moreover, users can quickly share soft copies via online modes like email, social media, etc. It is a less expensive and easy mode of communication in comparison to hard copies.
Some of the common examples of Soft copy include Ebooks, scanned notes, PDF files, e-newspapers, etc. With this, the soft copies are durable for a longer period than hard copies.
Any user can easily fold, tear, lose, burn, or destroy hard copies. However, they cannot destroy soft copies. In fact, the user can create numerous backups for the same and keep it in a reliable hardware structure.

Difference Between Hard Copy and Soft Copy

After getting familiar with what is hard copy and soft copy, one should also check the difference between Hard Copy and Soft Copy to understand the terms in a better manner.

Difference Between Hard Copy and Soft Copy
Hard Copy	Soft Copy
A hard copy is a physical/printable document.	A soft copy is a virtual/digital form of document.
The output of the hard copy is printable on paper.	The output of a soft copy file is electronically saved on computers.
The data of hard copy is available in a physical format including texts, photographs, images, etc.	The data of the soft copy is available in the form of virtual files on a computer/drive.
It is not editable	It is editable
Users cannot keep the hard copy for a longer period as they may misplace or destroy the copies.	Soft copies are available for a longer period.
Users can easily send the hard copies in person or through post etc	Users can send soft copies through digital modes like Email, Social media, etc.
Hard copy has physical weightage as it requires physical space for storage.	It has got no physical weightage, as the user store soft copies in computer memory space.
It mainly stores official details	It mostly stores private details.
Generating and sharing multiple hard copies on paper can be expensive through Xerox/photocopies.	It is less expensive to share/generate soft copies.
Cyber attack/data stealing is impossible.	Cyber attack/data stealing is possible.

[wp-faq-schema title="Difference Between Hard Copy and Soft Copy FAQs" accodion=1]

Difference Between Hard Copy and Soft Copy FAQs

What is a Hard Copy?

A hard copy means a printed version of a digital file on paper or any other material.

What is a Soft Copy?

A soft copy means the electronic version of a file that is available online on a computer/drive.

What is the difference Between Hard Copy and Soft Copy?

The difference between hard copy and soft copy is that a hard copy is a printable document whereas a soft copy is a virtual document. Furthermore, the hard copy data is available in the physical form including texts, images, etc. However, the soft copy data is available in the virtual files of a computer/drive.

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What is a Hard Copy?

A hard copy means a printed version of a digital file on paper or any other material. In the hard copy, the output/text/content is printed on paper and is also sometimes known as the permanent copy.
It implies the user can easily touch a hard copy. Some of the common examples of hard copies are images, drawings, photographs, text, or any printable documents.
Furthermore, hard copies play a pivotal role in the digital world for numerous reasons. If anyone loses or destroys their digital files, then they use hard copies as backups. Moreover, it is easy to manage and distribute hard copies.

What is a Soft Copy?

A soft copy is the electronic version of a file that is saved online on a computer/drive. It is a digital form of any document which is not printed on paper or any other material.
This means the user can easily view and edit the soft copy of the document with the help of the software programs. Some examples of software programs are presentation software, database programs, processing programs, etc depending on the type of document.
The output of a soft copy file is saved in computers, USB drives, etc, and is popularly known as the temporary copy or virtual copy of a document/file. Furthermore, no one can touch the soft copy as it is virtual in nature.
Moreover, users can quickly share soft copies via online modes like email, social media, etc. It is a less expensive and easy mode of communication in comparison to hard copies.
Some of the common examples of Soft copy include Ebooks, scanned notes, PDF files, e-newspapers, etc. With this, the soft copies are durable for a longer period than hard copies.
Any user can easily fold, tear, lose, burn, or destroy hard copies. However, they cannot destroy soft copies. In fact, the user can create numerous backups for the same and keep it in a reliable hardware structure.

Difference Between Hard Copy and Soft Copy

After getting familiar with what is hard copy and soft copy, one should also check the difference between Hard Copy and Soft Copy to understand the terms in a better manner.

Difference Between Hard Copy and Soft Copy
Hard Copy	Soft Copy
A hard copy is a physical/printable document.	A soft copy is a virtual/digital form of document.
The output of the hard copy is printable on paper.	The output of a soft copy file is electronically saved on computers.
The data of hard copy is available in a physical format including texts, photographs, images, etc.	The data of the soft copy is available in the form of virtual files on a computer/drive.
It is not editable	It is editable
Users cannot keep the hard copy for a longer period as they may misplace or destroy the copies.	Soft copies are available for a longer period.
Users can easily send the hard copies in person or through post etc	Users can send soft copies through digital modes like Email, Social media, etc.
Hard copy has physical weightage as it requires physical space for storage.	It has got no physical weightage, as the user store soft copies in computer memory space.
It mainly stores official details	It mostly stores private details.
Generating and sharing multiple hard copies on paper can be expensive through Xerox/photocopies.	It is less expensive to share/generate soft copies.
Cyber attack/data stealing is impossible.	Cyber attack/data stealing is possible.

[wp-faq-schema title="Difference Between Hard Copy and Soft Copy FAQs" accodion=1]