Computer Software (Software)

Computer software, or just software, is a set of instructions given to computer to solve a problem or it is a collection of computer programs that provides the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it.

Software is the most important part of the computer system without it computer can't do any task or work.  In other words, software is a set of Programs, Procedure, Algorithms and its Documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system.

Types Of Software-

There are three types of Computer software.

1. System Software
2. Application Software
3. Utility software

01- System Software -

System Software is set of programs to control and manage the operations of computer hardware. It controls the usage and allocation of different hardware components. It  provide a platform for running application software.

System software includes.

1. device drivers -  A driver typically communicates with the Hardware through the Usb or Communications subsystem to which the hardware connects.
2. operating systems -  An operating system (OS) is a set of software that manages computer hardware resources and provides common services for computer programs. Examples of popular modern operating systems include Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows (Xp, Win Server, Win7, Win8 etc.) , and Unix.
3. servers -  a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs
4. windowing systems -  A windowing system enables the computer user to work with several programs at the same time

02- Application Software -

Application software is used to perform various applications on the computer. It helps a computer user to perform specific tasks. People use application software according to their needs. Example- Ms-Office, Tally, Pagemaker, Internet explorer and Photo shop etc.

Application software include.

1. Customize Software -  Customized software is a type of application software that is designed for a particular customer or organization. It is developed to meet the exact requirements of a particular customer or organization. Example - A Software that is developed for a particular University, Railways Department, Weather Forecasting Department etc.
2. General Application Softwrae -  Package software is a type of application software that is developed for sale to the general public. Example -  Word processor such as MS word, Graphics software such as CorelDraw and Adobe Photoshop, Windows Media Player and Winamp for music and movies etc

03- Utility Software - 

Utility software is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer. A single piece of utility software is usually called utility or tool.

Utility software includes.

1. Data compression utilities output a shorter stream or a smaller file when provided with a stream or file.
2. Disk checkers can scan operating hard drive.
3. Disk cleaners can find files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or take up considerable amounts of space. Disk cleaner helps the user to decide what to delete when their hard disk is full.
4. Disk compression utilities can transparently compress/uncompressed the contents of a disk, increasing the capacity of the disk.
5. Disk defragmenters can detect computer files whose contents are broken across several locations on the hard disk, and move the fragments to one location to increase efficiency.
6. Disk partitions can divide an individual drive into multiple logical drives, each with its own file system which can be mounted by the operating system and treated as an individual drive.
7. Anti-virus utilities scan for computer viruses.
8. Backup utilities can make a copy of all information stored on a disk, and restore either the entire disk.
9. File managers provide a convenient method of managing tasks, such as deleting, renaming, cataloging, uncataloging, moving, copying, merging, generating and modifying data sets.
10. Registry cleaners clean and optimize the Windows registry by removing old registry keys that are no longer in use.