Computer software refers to a program (or group of programs) that gives you instructions on what to do and how to operate. Software programs can provide one main task or several main tasks.
As an example, a program designed to edit digital photos has a key task (i.e., allowing photo editing), but naturally it would have numerous subtasks (i.e., red-eye removal, color correction, resizing, and cropping / cropping photos). an image).
On the other hand, the operating system of a computer (a complex software that basically manages and runs the whole computer) would perform many main tasks, for example, managing input and output (ie the user typing with a keyword or the incoming audio). without speakers), memory allocation, management of computer hardware components (they are the electrical components that power a computer) and more.
The software can be grouped into approximately two groups: application software i systems software. Essentially, software that facilitates only one main task (e.g., photo editing software as in the example above) would be counted as application software. This contrasts with system software which refers to complex, multitasking programs that help run the entire system, such as an operating system.
These two main software groups are discussed in more detail below:
Application software
This is software that is installed on an operating system (see “Systems Software” below for more information). As mentioned above, this type of software tends to perform only one main task. Another example of application software would be a web browser: this is the program you are probably using right now to view this article. Examples of browsers include Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. In short, its main task / function is to make your Internet browsing easier.
Other types of application software are:
- Word processing – this type of software allows you to write documents and letters. Some examples include Microsoft Office Word and Open Office.
- Antivirus software – This type of software helps protect your computer system from malicious threats such as viruses and malware. Some examples include Norton Antivirus, Kaspersky Antivirus and AVG Antivirus.
- Photo editing – This type of software can be used to edit and manipulate photos and other digital images in various ways. Examples include Paint.net, Corel PaintShop Pro, and Adobe Photoshop.
Systems software
This type of software is very accurately described as the core of any computer system. Without systems software, a computer could not really work. In short, it manages all aspects of a computer system, from how the hardware interacts with the software (‘drivers’) to providing the user with an interface and a platform to interact with the system (‘operating system’). . He operating system – or “OS” – is the software that loads after turning on the computer. This is where all the application software is installed. Examples of an operating system include Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista, 7, etc.), Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS), and Apple Mac OS X.
Other types of systems software include device units (these make the hardware components work properly with the software and computer system) i utilities (They are also called “utility tools” and help monitor, maintain, test, and analyze different parts of a computer; such as “Task Manager” and “Disk Defragmentation on Windows operating systems).”