Computer software, or simply software, is a generic term that refers to a collection of data or computer

instructions that tell the computer how to work, in contrast to the physical hardware from which the
system is built, that actually performs the work. 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.

At the lowest level, executable code consists of machine language instructions specific to an individual
processor—typically a central processing unit (CPU). A machine language consists of groups of binary
values signifying processor instructions that change the state of the computer from its preceding state.
For example, an instruction may change the value stored in a particular storage location in the computer
—an effect that is not directly observable to the user. An instruction may also (indirectly) cause
something to appear on a display of the computer system—a state change which should be visible to the
user. The processor carries out the instructions in the order they are provided, unless it is instructed to
"jump" to a different instruction, or is interrupted by the operating system.(By now multi-core processors
are dominant, where each core can run instructions in order; then, however, each application software
runs only on one core by default, but some software has been made to run on many).

The majority of software is written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more
efficient for programmers to use because they are closer than machine languages to natural languages.
[1] High-level languages are translated into machine language using a compiler or an interpreter or a
combination of the two. Software may also be written in a low-level assembly language, which has
strong correspondence to the computer's machine language instructions and is translated into machine
language using an assembler.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software
.

Computer software (often called just software) is a set of instructions and associated documentation that
tells a computer what to do or how to perform a task or it can mean all the software on a computer,
including the applications and the operating system. Applications are programs that do a specific thing,
such as a game or a word processor. The operating system (Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, etc.) is
software that helps the applications run, and controls the display and the keyboard.

The word software was first used in the late 1960s to show the difference from computer hardware,
which are the parts of a machine that can be seen and touched. Software is the instructions that the
computer follows. Before compact discs (CDs) or Internet downloads, software came on various
computer data storage media like paper punch cards, magnetic discs or magnetic tape.

If you compare computers to music and musical instruments you can think of hardware as being the
instruments and software being the musical notes.

The word firmware is sometimes used to describe a style of software that is made specially for a
particular type of computer (or other electronic device) and is usually stored on a Flash memory or ROM
chip in the computer. Firmware usually refers to a piece of software that directly controls a piece of
hardware, for example the firmware for a CD drive or the firmware for a modem.

Hardware is also amazing.

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https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software

Sometimes abbreviated as SW and S/W, software is a collection of instructions that enable the user to
interact with a computer, its hardware, or perform tasks. Without software, most computers would be
useless. For example, without your Internet browser software, you could not surf the Internet or read
this page. Without an operating system, the browser could not run on your computer. The picture to the
right shows a Microsoft Excel box, an example of a spreadsheet software program.
Examples and types of software

Below is a list of the different kinds of software a computer may have installed with examples of related
programs. Click any of the links below for additional information.

It should be noted that although software is thought of as a program, it can be anything that runs on a
computer. The table below also includes a program column to clarify any software that is not a program.

Software Examples Program?

Antivirus AVG, Housecall, McAfee, Norton Yes

Audio / Music program iTunes, WinAmp Yes

Database Access, MySQL, SQL Yes

Device drivers Computer drivers No

E-mail Outlook, Thunderbird Yes

Game Madden NFL Football, Quake, World of Warcraft Yes

Internet browser Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer Yes

Movie player VLC, Windows Media Player Yes

Operating system Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows No

Photo / Graphics program Adobe PhotoShop, CorelDRAW Yes

Presentation PowerPoint Yes

Programming language C++, HTML, Java, Perl, Visual Basic (VB) Yes

Simulation Flight simulator, SimCityYes

Spreadsheet Excel Yes

Utility Compression, Disk Cleanup, Encryption, Registry cleaner, Screen saver No

Word processor Word Yes

How do you get software?

Software can be purchased at a retail computer store or online and come in a box containing all the disks
(floppy diskette, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray), manuals, warranty, and other documentation.

Software can also be downloaded to a computer over the Internet. Once downloaded, setup files are run
to start the installation process on your computer.

Free software

There are also a lot of free software programs available that are separated into different categories.

Shareware or trial software is software that gives you a few days to try the software before you have to
buy the program. After the trial time expires, you'll be asked to enter a code or to register the product
before you can continue to use it.

Freeware is completely free software that never requires payment, as long as it is not modified.

Open source software is similar to freeware. Not only is the program given away for free, but the source
code used to make the program is as well, allowing anyone to modify the program or view how it was
created.

How do you use computer software?

Once the software is installed on the computer hard drive, the program can be used anytime by finding
the program on the computer. On a Windows computer, a program icon is added to the Start Menu or
Start Screen, depending on your version of Windows.

How to maintain software

After the software is installed on your computer, it may need to be updated to fix any found errors.
Updating a program can be done using software patches. Once updates are installed any problems that
may have been experienced in the program will no longer occur.

How is software created and how does it work?

A computer programmer (or several computer programmers) write the instructions using a programming
language that tell the software how to function and what to do. Once the program has been completed,
it is compiled into a language that the computer can understand.
How do I create a computer program?

When I save a document, is that file also considered software?

When you create or edit a file using your software — a Microsoft Word document, for instance, or a
Photoshop image — that file is considered a "resource" or "asset" used by the software. However, the
file itself is not considered "software" even though it is an essential part of what your software is doing.

What was the first piece of computer software?

The first software program that was held in electronic memory was written by Tom Kilburn. The program
calculated the highest factor of the integer 2^18 = 262,144 and was successfully executed on June 21st
of 1948 at the University of Manchester. The computer that held that program was called the Small Scale
Experimental Machine, otherwise known as the "Baby" computer. This "Manchester Baby" is widely
celebrated as the birth of software.

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/software.htm#examples

Computer hardware is any physical device used in or with your machine, whereas software is a collection
of code installed onto your computer's hard drive. For example, the computer monitor you are using to
read this text and the mouse you are using to navigate this web page is computer hardware. The Internet
browser that allowed you to visit this page and the operating system that the browser is running on is
considered software.
https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000039.htm

In a computer, the hardware is what makes a computer work. A CPU processes information and that
information can be stored in RAM or on a hard drive. A sound card can provide sound to speakers, and a
video card can provide an image to a monitor. All of this is hardware.

On that same computer, software can be installed and allow a person to interact with the hardware. An
operating system, like Windows or macOS, is software. It provides a graphical interface for people to use
the computer and other software on the computer. Once an operating is installed additional programs
can be installed that allows the user to perform more specialized tasks such as creating documents and
pictures.

Can a computer run without software?

Windows XPIn most situations, yes, a computer can run without software being installed. However, if an
operating system or interpreter is not found on the computer, it either generates an error or doesn't
output any information. A computer needs to have at least some type of operating system that allows
the user and computer to interact with the computer hardware.

Installing programs onto the computer in addition to an operating system gives the computer additional
capabilities. For example, a word processor is not required, but it allows you to create documents and
letters.

An application software (app or application for short) is a computer software designed to perform a
group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities for the benefit of the user. Examples of an application
include a word processor, a spreadsheet, an accounting application, a web browser, a media player, an
aeronautical flight simulator, a console game or a photo editor. The collective noun application software
refers to all applications collectively.[1] This contrasts with system software, which is mainly involved
with running the computer.
Applications may be bundled with the computer and its system software or published separately, and
may be coded as proprietary, open-source or university projects.[2] Apps built for mobile platforms are
called mobile apps.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_software

System software is computer software designed to provide a platform to other software.[1] Examples of
system software include operating systems, computational science software, game engines, industrial
automation, and software as a service applications.[2]

In contrast to system software, software that allows users to do things like create text documents, play
games, listen to music, or surf the web is called application software.[3]

In the early days of computing most application software was custom-written by computer users to fit
their specific hardware and requirements. In contrast, system software was usually supplied by the
manufacturer of the computer hardware and was intended to be used by most or all users of that
system.

The line where the distinction should be drawn is not always clear. Many operating systems bundle
application software. Such software is not considered system software when it can be uninstalled usually
without affecting the functioning of other software. Exceptions could be e.g. web browsers such as
Internet Explorer where Microsoft argued in court that it was system software that could not be
uninstalled. Later examples are Chrome OS and Firefox OS where the browser functions as the only user
interface and the only way to run programs (and other web browsers can not be installed in their place),
then they can well be argued to be (part of) the operating system and hence system software.

Another borderline example is cloud-based software. This software provides services to a software client
(usually a web browser or a JavaScript application running in the web browser), not to the user directly,
and is therefore systems software. It is also developed using system programming methodologies and
systems programming languages. Yet from the perspective of functionality there is little difference
between a word processing application and word processing web application.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_software
System software :

Windows XP

Windows 7

Windows 8

Mac oS

Linux

Unix

Android

Anti virus

Disk formatting

Computer language translators

---------------------------------------

Application Software :

Microsoft Office

Adobe photoshop

Audacity

Inkscape

Visual studio

VLC media player

Jet audio

Picasa

Google chrome
Tally

https://www.quora.com/What-are-10-examples-of-system-software-and-application-software

When the computer is powered on, the CPU starts executing software instructions from your BIOS (or
UEFI), which is a special chip on your mainboard. This program will then request more instructions from
a specific hard drive (or CD-ROM, or USB device, or network card), and your operating system will start
executing.

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computer-hardware-and-software-work-
together&ved=0ahUKEwjJibuhn83bAhXJXCsKHbfoDCIQFgglMAE&usg=AOvVaw179zP8fYGQ8Zp_SRpCrND
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