Software

Definition - What does Software mean?

Software, in its most general sense, is a set of instructions or programs instructing a computer to do specific tasks. Software is a generic term used to describe computer programs. Scripts, applications, programs and a set of instructions are the terms often used to describe software.

Techopedia explains Software

The word software was first used by John Tukey in 1958. The theory of software was first proposed by Alan Turing in 1935.

Software is often divided into three categories:

  1. System software serves as a base for application software. System software includes device drivers, operating systems (OSs), compilers, disk formatters, text editors and utilities helping the computer to operate more efficiently. It is also responsible for managing hardware components and providing basic non-task specific functions. The system software is usually written in C programming language.
  2. Programming software is a set of tools to aid the developers to write programs. The various tools available are compilers, linkers, debuggers, interpreters and text editors.
  3. Application software is intended to perform certain tasks. Examples of application software include office suites, gaming applications, database systems and educational software. Application software can be a single program or a collection of small programs.
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