Nowadays, software is a key part of modern life, as we run everything from our personal gadgets to large business systems using software. It connects us to the hardware we use every day. In this blog, we’ll talk about what software is, why it’s important, and the different types it comes in.
Table of Contents
What is Software?
Software is a bundle of instructions, data scripts, and programs to perform a certain task function or operation that is commanded (what to do, how to do it, when to do it) by the user via the hardware device (PC/Computer/Laptop).
Every software is made to achieve a dedicated computational purpose. Its main purpose is to allow the user to interact with a device. In other words, it’s the interface between the user and the hardware. It makes the hardware useful for achieving the desired output of the user.
Software only understands a binary language which is (1 or 0) and it allows developers to instruct the device and make it perform the actions required.
Why do we need a Software?
Our body is like a hardware device, our brain is like a CPU and software is like our soul. Without software, we can’t perform any activities to achieve the desired output of the user as we can’t instruct hardware devices directly.
Software is an important part of any system because it can improve efficiency, reduce errors, improve communication, improve reliability, improve security, improve scalability, improve training and support, improve cost-effectiveness, and provide a better user experience.
What is a Program?
A Program is a set of instructions or a piece of code to perform a user’s task whereas a Software is a set of programs that is used to perform a task. Some of the references mentioned that software and programs are the same but that’s not true. A program is a subset of software.
There are mainly three types of Software :
1) System Software
2) Application Software
3) Proprietary Software
1. System Software
System Software is useful for work or operating the computer system. It is responsible for managing all tasks on hardware devices and provides basic functionality for executing each application. It controls the device’s inner or internal functioning via an OS (Operating System).
It runs in the background to manage all the functions or operations to fulfill a specific task of the user. If we have not installed System Software, we can’t perform any task on our computer device (PC/Laptop/Computer).
Types of System Software :
Operating System
An Operating System is a basic system software or program that is the interface between hardware devices (computer/laptop/mobile) and users. It provides a basic platform to run the application’s software or program. Without an OS application software doesn’t work. It manages application software and hardware and provides security to the users. Without it, software and hardware don’t work.
Examples:- Windows, LINUX, Ubuntu, Unix, macOS, Android, iOS, CentOS, Fedora, etc.
Language Processor/Translator/Converter
A Language Processor/Translator/Converter can convert a human-readable means high-level language (C, C++, JAVA, and Python) i.e., a source code into an object code/machine-readable code/binary code means low-level language (Assembly) via a Translator which is understandable by the machine. Example:- Assembler, Interpreter, Compiler, etc.
Programming Software
Programming Software is used to write the programming code by using programming languages such as C, C++, JAVA, Python, etc. Developers develop software by writing code using these languages. Later, they test and debug their code with the help of a Compiler and Debugger.
Subtypes of Programming Software are mentioned below :
- Assembler
Assemble converts a source code (Assembly Language) to an object code (Machine Language).
- Interpreter
The interpreter converts a source code (High-Level Language) to an object code (Machine Language).
- Compiler
The compiler converts a source code (High-Level Language) to an object code (Machine Language) at once.
- Debugger
A Debugger is one type of tool that helps developers identify and fix an error in their code by allowing them to monitor and control a program’s execution.
- Linker
Linker is a program that takes more than one object file and combines it into a single executable file. It is also called “Link Editor”.
- Loader
A loader is a program that takes an object code from the linker and loads it into the main memory.
Device Driver Software
A Device Driver software is an interface between the OS and hardware device. Overall, it manages how the device connects with your system (PC/Computer/Laptop) to perform the proper functioning of a specific hardware device. It is responsible for the control, management, and operation of a specific hardware device. It is one type of mediator between the OS and the attached device.
Example:- Mouse, USB, Printer, BIOS, ROM, Display, VGA, Motherboard, Sound Card, Mice, Modem etc. Basically, it is required when we want to connect any new device to our system (PC/Computer/Laptop), initially, we need to install the driver. So the OS knows how to manage or control that device.
Utility Software
Utility Software is used to maintain, configure, and manage the functionality of a computer system. Some Utility Software is inbuilt and comes with the OS such as memory management, administration tools, Input or Output management, etc.
Examples:- Antivirus, Compressional tools, defragmentation tool, formatting and restore utility, disk cleaner, etc.
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Features of System Software :
- System Software is the heart of computer systems.
- System Software is challenging to understand and design.
- System Software’s working speed is faster.
- System Software uses Low-Level Language.
- System Software is not as interactive as Application Software for the users.
- System Software is made according to system benefits.
2. Application Software
An Application Software/Program is used to perform special functions for the end user’s requirement to accomplish. It is also known as an End-User/Productivity Program.
The main purpose of the Application Software is to fulfill the user’s task. It is executed over the OS. A desktop/Laptop application is known as a Desktop Application while whatever we’re using on a phone/mobile is known as a Mobile Apps. Software developers create an application based on the user’s needs.
Types of Application Software :
There are mainly two types of Application Software :
1) General Purpose Software
2) Special Purpose or Customized Software.
General Purpose Software
General Purpose Software is used for generic purposes to perform different tasks for larger people in general instead of a specific task. Those are ready-made software that is used by end users as per their needs. General Purpose Software is also known as “Packages”.
Example:- MS Office (Word, Excel, Power, Google Drive, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Mozilla Browser, iTunes).
Special Purpose Software/Customized Software
Special Purpose Software or Customized Software is used to perform a specific task design or function for a specific organization or an individual.
Examples:- School Management Software, Accounting Software, User Defined Software, Railway Reservation System Software, Airline Reservation System, Invoice Management, HR Management Software, Inventory Control System Software (Stock Control System), Billing System Software, etc.
Now, we’ll discuss some examples in detail.
- Account Management Software
To solve the problem or error of manually entering and registering data entry, Account Management Software is developed. This software is used to automate and streamline the finance processes of an organization. It is useful for various financial applications, such as General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Fixed Assets, Budgeting, Project Accounting, Spend Management, etc.
- Reservation System Software
Reservation System Software is used for reserving any kind of tickets like buses, railways, airways, movies, hotel rooms, restaurant table booking, etc.
- HRMS (Human Resource Management System) Software
An HRMS is a software application that combines many human resources functions, including benefits administration, payroll, recruiting, training, performance analysis, and review into a single place.
Example:- To solve the problem of maintaining a physical attendance register for in-time or out-time attendance of students, and employees in the office we can use Attendance System Software. Payroll System Software is used to record employee details, working hours of employees, pay and deductions, report payroll information, and calculate statutory pay (e.g., maternity, sick).
- Inventory Control System Software
Inventory Control System Software is used to create invoices, purchase orders, printing, payment receipts, etc. This software is useful for multiple people who track and work with the inventory.
- Billing System Software
Billing System Software is used to automate the tracking of time and billing data and we can create customized invoices for services and products to keep track records of it. This software helps to manage customer details and maintain the availability of services or products for served purposes.
- Mobile Application Software
Mobile Application Software is specifically designed to run on the mobile device only for a specific purpose. It is designed to work with limited resources such as limited memory, screen size, battery life, etc. Mobile Apps are available and downloadable from online app collection stores such as Google Play Store, App Store, etc.
Mobile Apps can be utility apps such as Alarm, Notes, etc., entertainment apps like Netflix, and Spotify, etc., it can also play games like Angry Birds PUB G, etc, and payment apps like Gpay, Phonepe, Paytm, etc.
- Freeware Software
Freeware Software is freely available or accessible for a lifetime without any cost and we can use it freely just by downloading from the Internet but we can’t get its source code to make changes on it. That’s only one limitation of it. In other words, it allows copying, and distribution but does not provide modification on it. Usually, it is designed by companies to gain more popularity and improve their reach.
Example: – Telegram, Instagram, WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, Adobe Reader, Audacity, Web Browsers (Google Chrome, Internet Explorer), etc.
- Open Source Software
Open Source Software allows developers to access source code freely so they can design or add some feature to develop their own software using it, they can also improve and make alterations to the source code as per their needs and who has knowledge of it. We don’t need to make any payment to get it.
Example:- Ubuntu, Linux, etc.
- Word Processors Software
Word Processor Software is used to design a flyer, and data typing, create documentation, edit, we can make notes, and write a letter, newsletters, and reports, we even create books and legal documents, store data, print any document, and also do any format.
Example:- MS Word, Google Docs, Libre Office, Apple iWork-Pages, etc.
- Electronic Spreadsheets
An Electronic Spreadsheet is a program that accepts data values in tabular form and allows users to manage, manipulate, to calculate anything we can use functions, we can generate graphs and charts, and sort the data, analyze data in the desired manner.
Example:- MS Excel Sheet, Google Sheet, etc.
- Presentation Software
Presentation Software is used to create a professional slide presentation to represent any topic in front of an audience. It is a specialized type of graphic software. The visual aids can be computer images, photographs, and transparencies. To create slide shows a Presentation Graphic Software provides predefined backgrounds and sample page layouts. Navigation from one slide to another slide can be done automatically or manually in seconds.
Example:- MS PowerPoint.
- Database/DBMS (Database Management System) Software
Database Software allows users to perform different operations such as management, and modification. It also helps users create or retrieve their data etc. We can manage bulk data, we can run queries, and we can manage data row column-wise in the form of so many tables by using the Database Software.
Example:- MS Access, FoxPro, dBase, Clipper, MySQL, FileMaker, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, ORACLE, PostgreSQL, etc.
- Multimedia Software
Multimedia Software is used to create, record, and edit audio, video, image, graphics, and animations.
Examples:- Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, VLC Media Player, Windows Media Player, Windows Movie Maker, Picasa, Corel Draw, iTunes, etc.
- Web Browsers
Web Browsers are used for Internet suffering and their primary function allow users to retrieve data, navigate the WWW (World Wide Web). In other words, it is one type of tool to access the Internet on a computer, laptop, or mobile device, etc.
Examples:- Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Microsoft Edge, UC Browser, etc.
- Shareware Software
Shareware Software is similar to Freeware that is available on the Internet, so we can download it but we can use it on a trial basis for some specific time or period after that we’ve to pay for it if we want to use it daily.
Examples:- Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, WindZIP, PHP Debugger, etc.
- Educational Software
Educational Software is used to access educational-based content. It provides facilities for studying a specific subject. Various kinds of guidance software belong to it such as Delta Drawing and KidPix etc.
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Features of an Application Software :
- Application software is made for the user’s benefit.
- Application Software is mainly used to perform more specialized works such as email, word processing, spreadsheets, etc.
- Application Software is easy to understand and design.
- Application Software uses High-Level Language.
- Application software is more interactive for users.
- Application Software needs more storage space.
Difference between System Software and Application Software
| | System Software | Application Software |
| 1. | System Software is used to control, integrate, manage the individual hardware and maintain the system’s resources and provide the path to run the Application Software. | System Software fulfills the general purpose needs of a huge amount of end user’s day to day life. |
| 2. | Application Software used the “High-Level Language” (C, C++, JAVA). | System Software uses the “Low-Level Language” (Assembly Language). |
| 3. | Application Software fulfills the specific needs of any particular person or organization. | The system always runs, without Application Software on it. |
| 4. | Application Software is an interface between the user (Developer, Tester, Administrator, who uses and maintains a product) and the computer system. | The system can’t run, without System Software on it. |
| 5. | System Software programming is hard to understand. | Application Software Programming is easier as compared to System Software Programming. |
| 6. | System Software is automatically run when the system is Turned On and stops when it’s Turned Off. | Application Software is run as per user’s demand and closed when user’s request. |
| 7. | The best example of System Software is an Operating System (OS). | The best example of Application Software is the Railway Reservation System. |
| 8. | System Software is an interface between the end user and hardware. | Application Software is an interface between the user (Developer, Tester, Administrator, who uses and maintains a product) and computer system. |
| 9. | System Software runs independently. | Application Software is dependent on System Software to run. |
3. Proprietary Software / Closed Source Software
Proprietary Software is created by a company, organization, or individual under their own ownership and distributed under a license that restricts the user to use it. Its source code is kept confidential and shares the license key to the users who have purchased it from supplier or vendor. It is neither open nor freely accessible. It is freely available for individual users but for the organization’s purpose, we need to purchase it from the vendor or supplier who has the copyright of that software.
Examples:- Microsoft Windows Operating System, Quick Heal Antivirus, Tally, etc.
Conclusion
This brings me to the end of this article. I have tried to make this article as wholesome as possible. I have loaded it with essential information and details, with an intention of helping you understand this topic in-depth. You can explore this domain and get industry-ready with Intellipaat’s Software Development Engineering Course.