🌟Software refers to a program that makes the computer to do something meaningful. It is the planned, step-by-step instructions required to turn data into information.
Software can be classified into two categories :
🔹️System Software
🔹️Application Software
🌟System Software consists of general programs written for a computer. These programs provide the environment to run the application programs. System software comprises programs, which interact with the hardware at a very basic level. They are the basic necessity of a computer system for its proper functionality. System software serves as the interface between hardware and the user. The operating system, compliers and utility programs are examples of system software.
🌟The most important type of system software is the operating system. An operating system is an integrated set of specialized programs that is used to manage the overall operations of a computer. It acts like an interface between the user, computer hardware and software. Every computer must have an operating system to run other programs. DOS (Disk Operating System), Unix, Linux and Windows are some of the common operating systems.
🌟The complier software translates the source program (user written program) into an object program (binary form). Specific compliers are available for computer programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL, C, C++ etc. The utility programs support the computer for specific tasks like file copying, sorting, linking a object program, etc.
🌟An Application Software consists of programs designed to solve a user problem. It is used to accomplish specific tasks rather than just managing a computer system. Application software are inturn, controlled by system software which manages hardware devices.
🌟Some typical examples are : railway reservation system, game programs, word processing software, weather forecasting programs. Among the application software some are packaged for specific tasks. The commonly used Application software packages are word processor, spreadsheet, database management system and graphics.
🌟One of the most commonly used software package is word processing software. Anyone who has used a computer as a word processor knows that it is far more than a fancy typewriter. The great advantage of word processing over a typewriter is that you can make changes without retyping the entire document. The entire writing is transformed by this modern word processing software. This software lets you create, edit, format, store and print text and graphics. Some of the commonly used word processors are MicrosoftWord, WordStar, WordPerfect, etc.
🌟Spreadsheet software packages allows the user to manipulate numbers. Repetitive numeric calculations,use of related formulae and creation of graphics and charts are some of the basic tools. This capacity let’s business people try different combinations of numbers and obtain the results quickly. Lotus 1-2-3, Excel, etc. are some of the famous spreadsheet applications.
🌟A database management system is collection of programs that enable to store, modify and extract information from a database. A database organizes the information internally. Computerized banking system, Automated Teller Machine, Airlines and Railway reservation system etc., are some of the database applications.
