What field uses electrical engineering and computer science to develop computer hardware and software?

The field that combines electrical engineering and computer science to develop computer hardware and software is computer engineering. This discipline focuses on the integration of hardware and software, which is essential for creating complex systems such as computers, embedded systems, and other devices that require both hardware design and software programming.

Professionals in computer engineering work on designing, developing, and testing computer systems and components, ranging from circuit boards and microprocessors to operating systems and application software. This field is distinct because it emphasizes the collaboration between hardware and software to create efficient and powerful computing systems.

In contrast, software engineering primarily concentrates on the development of software applications without encompassing the hardware aspects as deeply as computer engineering does. Information technology focuses more on the management and deployment of technology systems, while network engineering is specifically concerned with designing and maintaining network infrastructures rather than the broader development of hardware and software systems.