COMPUTER - SOFTWARE
Software is a set of programs, which
are designed to perform a well-defined function. A program is a sequence of
instructions written to solve a particular problem.
There
are two types of software:
- System Software
- Application Software
System Software
The
system software is a collection of programs designed to operate, control and
extend the processing capabilities of the computer itself. System software are
generally prepared by computer manufacturers.
These
softwares comprise of programs written in low level languages which interact
with the hardware at a very basic level. System software serves as the
interface between hardware and the end users.
Some
examples of system software are Operating System, Compilers, Interpreter, Assemblers,
etc.
Features of System Software are the
following:
- Close to system.
- Fast in speed.
- Difficult to design.
- Difficult to understand.
- Less interactive.
- Smaller in size.
- Difficult to manipulate.
- Generally written in low-level language.
Application Software
Application
softwares are the softwares that are designed to satisfy a particular need of a
particular environment. All softwares prepared by us in the computer lab can
come under the category of Application Software.
Application
software may consist of a single program, such as a Microsoft's notepad for
writing and editing simple text. It may also consist of a collection of
programs, often called a software package, which work together to accomplish a
task, such as a spreadsheet package.
Examples
of Application softwares are the following:
- Payroll Software
- Student Record Software
- Inventory Management Software
- Income Tax Software
- Railways Reservation Software
- Microsoft Office Suite Software
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Features of Application Software are
the following:
- It is close to user.
- It is easy to design.
- More interactive.
- Slow in speed.
- Generally written in high-level language.
- Easy to understand.
- Easy to manipulate and use.
- Bigger in size and requires large storage space.
