Terms related to computer

What is Software?
Computer software, or just software is a general term primarily used for digitally stored data such as computer programs and other kinds of information read and written by computers. Today, this includes data that has not traditionally been associated with computers, such as film, tapes and records.The term was coined in order to contrast to the old term hardware (meaning physical devices); in contrast to hardware, software is intangible, meaning it "cannot be touched".Software is also sometimes used in a more narrow sense, meaning application software only.
Types of Software:-

Practical computer systems divide software systems into three major classes:- system software, programming software and application software, although the distinction is arbitrary, and often blurred.


 System software
System software helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It includes a combination of the following:

1. device drivers
2. operating systems
3. servers
4. utilities
5. windowing systems

The purpose of systems software is to unburden the applications programmer from the often complex details of the particular computer being used, including such accessories as communications devices, printers, device readers, displays and keyboards, and also to partition the computer's resources such as memory and processor time in a safe and stable manner. Examples are - Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
Programming software

Programming software usually provides tools to assist a programmer in writing computer programs, and software using different programming languages in a more convenient way. The tools include:

1. compilers
2. debuggers
3. interpreters
4. linkers
5. text editors

An Integrated development environment (IDE) is a single application that attempts to manage all these functions.

Application software

Application software allows end users to accomplish one or more specific (not directly computer development related) tasks. Typical applications include:

1. industrial automation
2. business software
3. video games
4. quantum chemistry and solid state physics software
5. telecommunications (i.e., the Internet and everything that flows on it)
6. databases
7. educational software
8. medical software
9. military software
10. molecular modeling software
11. image editing
12. spreadsheet
13. simulation software
14. Word processing
15. Decision making software