Software

Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices.

Software can be thought of as the variable part of a computer and hardware the invariable part. Software is often divided into application software and system software. The term middleware is sometimes used to describe programming that mediates between application and system software or between two different kinds of application software.

Types of Software

1. Application Software

• Word Processing

is the creation of documents using a word processor. It can also refer to advanced shorthand techniques, sometimes used in specialized contexts with a specially modified typewriter.

• Desktop publishing

combines a personal computer and WYSIWYG page layout software to create publication documents on a computer for either large scale publishing or small scale local multifunction peripheral output and distribution.

• Spreadsheet

is a computer application that simulates a paper, accounting worksheet.

• Database

is a system intended to organize, store, and retrieve large amounts of data easily.

• Presentations

is a computer software package used to display information, normally in the form of a slide show.

• Browser

is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web.

• Communications

is used to provide remote access to systems and exchange files and messages in text, audio and/or video formats between different computers or user IDs.

2. System Software

System software is computer software designed to operate the computer hardware and to provide a platform for running application software.

The most basic types of system software are:

• The computer BIOS and device firmware, which provide basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer.


• The operating system (prominent examples being Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux), which allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring data between memory and disks or rendering output onto a display device. It also provides a platform to run high-level system software and application software.


• Utility software, which helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer.