What is the term for the box that contains the main components of a computer?

The term that describes the box containing the main components of a computer is "chassis." The chassis serves as the housing that not only encloses the internal parts of a computer, such as the motherboard, power supply, and drives, but also provides structural support and protection from external elements. Additionally, the chassis is designed with airflow considerations, allowing for cooling mechanisms to operate effectively, ensuring the computer components remain within safe operating temperatures.

While "case" is frequently used interchangeably with "chassis," the more precise term in technical contexts is "chassis." This distinction is important in understanding the specific roles and design aspects of computer hardware. The terms "shell" and "cabinet" are less common in this specific context and may refer to different types of enclosures not ideally suited for computer components. Thus, "chassis" is the most accurate term to denote the main component enclosure in a computer.