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Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. 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. Data software exists solely for its eventual use by other program software.
The term software was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1957; colloquially, the term is often used to mean application software. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all information processed by computer system, programA computer program (often simply called a program is an example of computer software that prescribes the actions (" computations") that are to be carried out by a computer. Most programs consist of a loadable set of instructions which determines how the cs and data.
Computer software is often contrasted with computer hardware, which is the physical substrate on which software exists.
For other uses of the word software see Software (disambiguation)Software can refer to any of the following: Computer software In retailing, software refers to clothing. Downloading some software is a euphemism for defecating..
1 System and application software
Computer science divides software into two big classes: system softwareSystem software is a generic term referring to any computer software whose purpose is to help run the computer system. Most of it responsible directly for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual hardware components of a computer system. and application software. All other subclasses belong to these two classes.
- System softwareSystem software is a generic term referring to any computer software whose purpose is to help run the computer system. Most of it responsible directly for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual hardware components of a computer system. helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It includes operating systems, device drivers, programming tools, servers, windowing systems, utilities and more.
- Application software allows a user to accomplish one or more specific tasks. Typical applications include office suites, business software, databases and video games. Most of application software has GUIs.
2 Users see three layers of software
Users often see things differently. People who use modern general purpose computers (as opposed to embedded systems) usuallly see three layers of software performing a variety of tasks: platform, application, and user software.
- Platform software
- Platform includes the basic input-output system (often described as firmware rather than software), device drivers, an operating system, and typically a graphical user interface which, in total, allow a user to interact with the computer and its peripherals (associated equipment). Platform software often comes bundled with the computer, and users may not realize that it exists or that they have a choice to use different platform software.
- Application software
- Applications are what most people think of when they think of software. Typical examples include office suites and video games. Application software is often purchased separately from computer hardware. Sometimes applications are bundled with the computer, but that does not change the fact that they run as independent applications. Applications are almost always independent programs from the operating system, though they are often tailored for specific platforms. Most users think of compilers, databases, and other "system software" as applications.
- User-written software
- User software tailors systems to meet the users specific needs. User software include spreadsheet templates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, graphics and animation scripts. Even email filters are a kind of user software. Users create this software themselves and often overlook how important it is.
See also: Three-tier application, Software architecture.
