Software is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions telling a computer what to do and how to do it. We can also say software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer for some purposes. In other words software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation. Program software performs the function of the program it implements, either by directly providing instructions to the computer hardware or by serving as input to another piece of software.
Types of Software
- Application Software
- System Software
Application Software: Is developed to aid in any task that benefits from computation. It is a broad category, and encompasses software of many kinds, including the internet browser. Aplication software is divided in:
Word Processing: Is the creation of documents using a word processor.
Spreadsheets: Is a computer application that simulates a paper, accounting worksheet.
Databases: Is a system intended to organize, store, and retrieve large amounts of data easily.
Desktops 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.
Presentation: 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.
Communication: 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.
System Software: Provides the basic functions for computer usage and helps run the computer hardware and system. System software divided in:
Operating System: Is software, consisting of programs and data, that runs on computers and provides common services for execution of various application software.
Utilities Software: Is a kind of system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer.
