Software | Understanding Software: The Backbone of Modern Technology
Understanding Software: The Backbone of Modern Technology
Written by Marlyn Gregorio ୦ Posted last August 23, 2024
Daily, we turn to software to execute a certain task, be entertained, or just stay connected with the rest of the world. From very small, such as mobile applications, to huge and elaborated computer systems, software forms a part of our daily life.
As such, we are going to deeply look at what software is, its types, and examples in this blog post.
What is a Software?
SOFTWARE consists of series of instructions, data, or computer programs, through which devices can move and perform specific things. Software, substantively, is used as the contrary of hardware; it refers to all the visible touchable parts of a computer. By "software" I mean all that is executable at a device: programs, scripts, and applications.
Software, in very human terms, for a computer system is a collection of instructions or commands that, if executed, provide desired functions, features, or operations. In other words, software is a computer program that contains a list of instructions to execute the demands of a user and guide a machine. For instance, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and many more.
Types of Software
It is a collection of data that is given to the computer to complete a particular task. The chart below describes the types of software:
Above is the diagram of types of software. Now we will briefly describe each type and its subtypes:
1. System Software
- Operating System
- Language Processor
- Device Driver
2. Application Software
- General Purpose Software
- Customize Software
- Utility Software
System Software
System software is software that directly operates the computer hardware and provides the basic functionality to the users as well as to the other software to operate smoothly. Or in other words, system software basically controls a computer’s internal functioning and also controls hardware devices such as monitors, printers, and storage devices, etc. It is like an interface between hardware and user applications, it helps them to communicate with each other because hardware understands machine language (i.e. 1 or 0) whereas user applications are work in human-readable languages like English, Hindi, German, etc. so system software converts the human-readable language into machine language and vice versa.
Types of System Software
Types of System Software
It has three subtypes which are:- Operating System: It is the main program of a computer system. When the computer system ON it is the first software that loads into the computer’s memory. Basically, it manages all the resources such as computer memory, CPU, printer, hard disk, etc., and provides an interface to the user, which helps the user to interact with the computer system. It also provides various services to other computer software. Examples of operating systems are Linux, Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows, etc.
- Language Processor: It is well known that system software changes the human-readable language into machine language and vise versa. Hence, the language processor is taking care of the conversion of the program written in high-level programming languages such as Java, C, C++, Python, etc.—in this context, known as source code—into sets of instructions easily readable by machines, popularly known as object code or machine code.
- Device Driver: A device driver is, hence, a program designed to control a device and aid that device in the execution of its functions. So, every device, be it a printer, mouse, or even a modem, needs a driver to connect eternally with the computer system. Therefore, every time you connect a new device to your computer system, the first thing you do is install the driver of that device so that your operating system knows how to control or deal with that device.
Features of System Software
- System Software is closer to the computer system.
- System Software is written in a low-level language in general.
- System software is difficult to design and understand.
- System software is fast in speed(working speed).
- System software is less interactive for the users in comparison to application software.
Application Software
Application software is that software which performs some special functions or provides functions that are much beyond the basic operation of a computer. In other words, the application software is designed to perform a specific task for the end-users. It is a product designed only according to the specification and requirement of the end-users. Examples of application software are spreadsheets, word processors, database management software, inventory software, payroll software, etc.
Types of Application SoftwareThere are different types of application software and those are:- General Purpose Software: Such application software is used in a number of tasks, and it does not limit itself to performing any single task. For example, MS-Word, MS-Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
- Customized Software: This type of application software is used or designed to perform specific tasks or functions or designed for specific organizations. For example, railway reservation system, airline reservation system, invoice management system, etc.
- Utility Software: This class of application software caters to the support the computer infrastructure receives. It implements the analysis, configuration, optimization, and maintenance of the system, and makes provision for the system's requirements. Antivirus, disk fragmenter, memory tester, disk repair, disk cleaners, registry cleaners, disk space analyzer, and so much more.
Features of Application Software
- An important feature of application software is it performs more specialized tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, email, etc.
- Mostly, the size of the software is big, so it requires more storage space.
- Application software is more interactive for the users, so it is easy to use and design.
- The application software is easy to design and understand.
- Application software is written in a high-level language in general.
Difference Between System Software and Application Software
Now, let us discuss some difference between system software and application software:
- Operating System: It is the main program of a computer system. When the computer system ON it is the first software that loads into the computer’s memory. Basically, it manages all the resources such as computer memory, CPU, printer, hard disk, etc., and provides an interface to the user, which helps the user to interact with the computer system. It also provides various services to other computer software. Examples of operating systems are Linux, Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows, etc.
- Language Processor: It is well known that system software changes the human-readable language into machine language and vise versa. Hence, the language processor is taking care of the conversion of the program written in high-level programming languages such as Java, C, C++, Python, etc.—in this context, known as source code—into sets of instructions easily readable by machines, popularly known as object code or machine code.
- Device Driver: A device driver is, hence, a program designed to control a device and aid that device in the execution of its functions. So, every device, be it a printer, mouse, or even a modem, needs a driver to connect eternally with the computer system. Therefore, every time you connect a new device to your computer system, the first thing you do is install the driver of that device so that your operating system knows how to control or deal with that device.
Features of System Software
- System Software is closer to the computer system.
- System Software is written in a low-level language in general.
- System software is difficult to design and understand.
- System software is fast in speed(working speed).
- System software is less interactive for the users in comparison to application software.
Application Software
Application software is that software which performs some special functions or provides functions that are much beyond the basic operation of a computer. In other words, the application software is designed to perform a specific task for the end-users. It is a product designed only according to the specification and requirement of the end-users. Examples of application software are spreadsheets, word processors, database management software, inventory software, payroll software, etc.
Types of Application Software
There are different types of application software and those are:
- General Purpose Software: Such application software is used in a number of tasks, and it does not limit itself to performing any single task. For example, MS-Word, MS-Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
- Customized Software: This type of application software is used or designed to perform specific tasks or functions or designed for specific organizations. For example, railway reservation system, airline reservation system, invoice management system, etc.
- Utility Software: This class of application software caters to the support the computer infrastructure receives. It implements the analysis, configuration, optimization, and maintenance of the system, and makes provision for the system's requirements. Antivirus, disk fragmenter, memory tester, disk repair, disk cleaners, registry cleaners, disk space analyzer, and so much more.
Features of Application Software
- An important feature of application software is it performs more specialized tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, email, etc.
- Mostly, the size of the software is big, so it requires more storage space.
- Application software is more interactive for the users, so it is easy to use and design.
- The application software is easy to design and understand.
- Application software is written in a high-level language in general.
Difference Between System Software and Application Software
Now, let us discuss some difference between system software and application software:
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