What is Software ?

What is Software?

• Software is a collection of instruction that enable a user to interact with the computer or have the computer perform specific tasks for them without software, the computer would be useless.
  

·        There are two type of Software namely:,

1.      System Software.                        2. Application Software.

    1.      System Software :

• System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computer’s hardware and application programs.
  
  
•  If we think of the computer system as a layered model, the system software is the interface between the hardware and user applications.
  
  
• The operating system (OS) is the best known example of system software.
   
• The OS manages all the other programs in a computer.
  
  
• System software are of three types namely. Operating system, NOS, Drivers.

   2.   Application Software :

•  Application software is all the computer software that causes a computer to perform useful tasks beyond the running of the computer itself.
  
  
• A specific instance of such software is called a software application, application program, application.
  
• Application software is a subclass of computer software that employs the capabilities of a computer directly and thoroughly to a task that the user wishes to perform.
  
  
•  Application Software are of two types namely. Readymade and Tailor made.     

 Operating System

·        An operating system or OS is a software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software.

·        Without a computer operating system, a computer and software programs would be useless.

Classification of operating systems

·        Operating systems can be classified into different types based on their interface, user friendliness, and functionality.

Different types of operating systems are:

1.  Character user interface (CUI)-based operating systems.
   
   
2.  Graphical user interface (GUI)-based operating systems.
   
   
3.  Single-user operating systems.
   
   
4.  Multi-user operating systems.
   
   
5.  Single-tasking operating systems.
   
   
6.  Multitasking operating systems.
   
   
7.  Real-time operating systems.