What is a System?

A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole.

• What are the characteristics of a system?
• What are some examples of systems?

The characteristics of a system include:

• It has boundaries that define what is inside and outside the system.
• It has a structure, or a way in which the elements are arranged.
• It has a purpose, or a reason for existing.

Some examples of systems include:

• A motor, which has an input of electric power and an output of rotation.
• A computer, which has an input of data and an output of information.
• A human body, which is a complex system of organs, tissues, and cells.