Revision Notes

What is Software?

Software is a general term used to describe a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that perform some tasks on a computer system.
Software includes websites, programs, video games etc. that are coded by programming languages like C, C++, etc.
"Software" is sometimes used in a broader context to mean anything which is not hardware but which is used with hardware, such as film, tapes and records.

Types of Software

System software

System software helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It includes:

• device drivers
• operating systems
• servers
• utilities

Programming software

Programming software usually provides tools to assist a programmer in writing computer programs, and software using different programming languages in a more convenient way. The tools include:

• compilers
• debuggers
• interpreters
• linkers
• text editors

Application software

Application software allows end users to accomplish one or more specific (not directly computer development related) tasks.

Typical applications include:

• industrial automation
• business software
• computer games
• telecommunications (i.e. the internet and everything that flows on it)
• databases
• educational software
• medical software

Typical examples of 'software applications' are word processors, spreadsheets, media players and database applications.