Computer Software

System vs application software — the instructions that make hardware useful, and the category every program falls into.

📖 ~4 min read 💻 RRB NTPC / Group D — Computer Awareness

Software is a set of instructions (programs) that tells the hardware what to do. It cannot be physically touched.

Type	Function	Examples
System Software	Manages and controls hardware, provides a platform for application software to run	Operating System, Device Drivers
Application Software	Performs specific user tasks	MS Word, MS Excel, browsers, games
Utility Software	Performs maintenance tasks	Antivirus, Disk Cleanup, File Compression tools

Freeware: Free to use, but source code is not available
Shareware: Free for a trial period, then requires payment
Open Source: Source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute

💡 The Operating System is the most important system software — it acts as an interface between the user and hardware.

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