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 (programs that do work users are directly interested in) and system software (which includes operating systems and any program that supports application software).

In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all information processed by computer systems, programs and data. Computer software includes computer programs, libraries and related non-executable data, such as online documentation or digital media. Computer hardware and software require each other and neither can be realistically used on its own.
A diagram showing how the user interacts with application software on a typical desktop computer.The application software layer interfaces with the operating system, which in turn communicates with the hardware. The arrows indicate information flow.
A diagram showing how the user interacts with application software on a typical desktop computer.The application software layer interfaces with the operating system, which in turn communicates with the hardware. The arrows indicate information flow.

A diagram showing how the user interacts with application software on a typical desktop computer.The application software layer interfaces with the operating system, which in turn communicates with the hardware. The arrows indicate information flow.

SOFTWARE:Application Software
Choosing the right application software for business or personal use can improve function and efficiency. If you don’t understand your options, you could wind up with something that doesn’t benefit your business or, worse yet, hurts your productivity, costing you time and resources. Understanding what types of application software are available to you, be they ready-made apps or custom app builds uniquely designed for your needs, will help you to more clearly assess all of your options.
An application is any program, or group of programs, that is designed for the end user. Applications software (also called end-user programs) include such things as database programs, word processor, Web browsers and spreadsheets.

Application software programs are created to facilitate a variety of functions, including but not limited to:

managing information
manipulating data
constructing visuals
coordinating resources
calculating figures

The most common application software programs are used by millions every day and include:

Microsoft suite of products (Office, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
Internet browsers like Firefox, Safari, and Chrome
mobile pieces of software such as Pandora (for music ap
preciation), Skype (for real-time online communication), and Slack (for team collaboration)

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Power Point

Mozilla Firefox

Pandora Radio

SOFTWARE:OPERATING SYSTEM
An operating system, or “OS,” is software that communicates with the hardware and allows other programs to run. It is comprised of system software, or the fundamental files your computer needs to boot up and function. Every desktop computer, tablet, and smartphone includes an operating system that provides basic functionality for the device.

The operating system manages a computer’s hardware resources, including:

Input devices such as a keyboard and mouse
Output devices such as display monitors, printers and scanners
Network devices such as modems, routers and network connections
Storage devices such as internal and external drives
Some operating systems were developed in the 1950s, when computers could only execute one program at a time. Later in the decade, computers included many software programs, sometimes called libraries, which were linked together to create the beginning of today’s operating systems.
The OS consists of many components and features. Which features are defined as part of the OS vary with each OS. However, the three most easily defined components are:
- Kernel: This provides basic-level control over all of the computer hardware devices. Main roles include reading data from memory and writing data to memory, processing execution orders, determining how data is received and sent by devices such as the monitor, keyboard and mouse, and determining how to interpret data received from networks.
- User Interface: This component allows interaction with the user, which may occur through graphical icons and a desktop or through a command line.
- Application Programming Interface- This component allows application developers to write modular code.