Our natural environment consists of both living as well as non-living things, it is basically the surrounding or condition in which both biotic and abiotic components survive. Now we have a very basic question that how do we actually differentiate between biotic and abiotic components:

1. The most basic and general point of difference between biotic and abiotic component is that, a biotic component is the one which constitutes of life in it similarly we can define abiotic components as the one who does not constitute life.

2. Biotic components can move, for example people travel from one place to another, animals move around in search of food, plants also show some movements which accounts for their biotic nature on the other hand we have furniture, book, pen etc. which cannot move.

3. Biotic components have organ system which perform some biological functions like the transportation system in plants transports water and minerals throughout the plant, human and animals comprises of the nervous system, digestive system and many others which have their individual functionalities whereas abiotic components do not have any such organ systems in them.

4. Biotic components can reproduce through either laying eggs or giving birth to young ones whereas abiotic components cannot reproduce.