What is software:-
Software is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do. A software is an interface between the user and the computer hardware. It is responsible for controlling ,integrating and managing the hardware components of a computer system and for accomplishing specific tasks.
Types of Software:-
1.System Software
2.Application Software
let's first understand what is system software and what is the use of system software:-
1.System Software:-
It consists of several programs ,which are directly responsible for controlling, integrating and managing the hardware components of a computer system. System software also provides the interface between the user and components of the computer.
Depending on the functionality ,the system software can be further divided into following categories:-
- Operating System:-It consists of programs which control, coordinate and supervise the activities of the various components of a computer system. It's function is to provide the link between the computer hardware and the user. It provides an environment to run the programs:
The operating system performs the following functions in a computer:-
i. It recognize input from keyboard, sends output to the display screen.
ii. It makes sure that programs running at the same time do not interfere with each other.
iii. It is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorised users do not access the system.
BIOS:-
The Basic Input/Output System(BIOS) is commonly known as System BIOS. The BIOS controls various electronic components within the main computer system. The initial function of the BIOS is to initialize system devices such as RAM, Hard disk, CD/DVD, video display card and other hardware.
- Device Drivers:-A software which is written within the objective of making a device functional when it is connected to the computer is called device driver. It is a system software that acts like an interface between the user and the computer hardware.
- Language Translator:-It helps in converting programming languages to machine language. The translated program is called object code.
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Some other useful resources:-
- Linker:-It is system program that links together several object modules and libraries' to form a single coherent(executable) program .The main purpose of linker is is to resolve references among files. Linker is used to determine the memory locations that code from each module will occupy and relates its instruction by adjusting absolute references.
- Loader:-It is a kind of system software which is responsible for loading and relocation of the executable program in the main memory. It is a part of operating system that brings an executable file residing on disk into memory and start its execution process.
Application Software:-
Application software is a computer software designed to help the user to perform single or multiple tasks. It is a set of instructions or programs designed for specific uses or applications, that enable the user to interact with a computer. Application software are also called the end-user programs. These programs do the real work for users.
There are two types of application software:-
1.General Purpose Software:-
These software are those software which are used for any general purpose. They allow people to do simple computer tasks.
Some of the general-purpose software are as follows:-
A. Word-Processing Software:-
A word processor is a software program capable of creating, storing and printing of documents. Word processors have the ability to create a document and make changes anywhere in the document.
Today ,the word processor is one of the most frequently used programs or online services used on a computer system.
e.g. Microsoft word, Word perfect(Windows only),Apple works(Mac only),OpenOffice.org Writer etc.
B. Electronic Spreadsheets:-
Spreadsheets applications(sometimes referred to simply as spreadsheets)are the computer programs that accept data in a tabular form and allow you to create and manipulate spreadsheets electronically.
The relationship between cells are called Formulas and the names of the cells are called Labels e.g. Microsoft Excel, Corel Quattro,Lotus1-2-3 etc.
C. Presentation Software:-
Presentation is the practice of showing and explaining the contents of a topic to an audience or a learner visually. People , in variety of setting and situations, use presentation software to make their presentation more interesting and professional.
e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance, OpenOffice.org.
D. Database Management System:-
It's sort form is DBMS.A DBMS refers to the software that is responsible for sorting, maintaining and utilising a database.
It enable user to define ,create and maintain the database and provide controlled access on it.
e.g. Microsoft Access, MySQL, Corel Paradox etc.
E. Desktop Publishing(DTP)Software:-
It is a tool for graphic designers and non-designers to create visual communication for professional or desktop printing as well as for online or on screen electronic publishing.
e.g. Adobe Pagemaker, Illustrator etc.
F. Graphics Software:-
It is an image editing software. It is an application program or collection of programs that enables a person to manipulate visual images on a computer system. Most graphics software have the ability to import and export one or more graphics file format.
e.g. DirectX, Adobe Photoshop etc.
G. Multimedia Software:-
Multimedia includes a combination of text ,audio, still images, animation, video interactivity content forms.
e.g. VLC Media player, Nimbuzz etc.
Another type of Application Software:-
Specific Purpose Software:-
These software are designed to perform specific tasks. This type of application software generally has one purpose to execute.
Some of the specific purpose application software are described below:-
1.Inventory Management System and Purchasing System:-
Inventory is a list of goods and materials available in a stock. Inventory management system is generally used in departmental stores or in an organization to keep the record of the stock of all the physical resources.
e.g. FishBowl, AdvancePro etc.
2.Payroll Management System:-
It is used by all modern organization to encompass every employee of the organization who receives a regular waves or other compensation.
e.g. Namely, UtilPro etc.
3.Hotel Management System:-
It refers to the management technique used in the hotel sector. These can include hotel administration,account,billing,marketing,housekeeping,front-office or front desk.
e.g.Djubo, Aathiya HMS etc.
4.Reservation System:-
A reservation system or Central Reservation System(CRS) is a computerised system used to store and retrieve information and conduct transactions related to air travel, hotels, car rental or other activities.
Today Number of websites like yatra.com,makemytrip.com provide online booking for tourists.
5.Report Card Generator:-
It is an application software which is commonly used in schools by the examination department to prepare and generate the report cards of the students.
6.Accounting Software:-
It is an application software that records and process accounting transactions within functional modules such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and trial balance.
e.g.Tally.ERP9 etc.
7.Billing System:-
It refers to the software that is used to perform the billing process. It handles the tracking of labeled products and services delivered to a customer or set of customers.
e.g. Billing Manager, Billing Tracker etc.
Notes:-
This would be a single application developed for one defined purpose that is not a utility.
Here's where you can separate all of those standalone applications into different categories like games, word processors, analytical engines, newsfeeds etc.
Even social media platforms have come to resemble applications, especially on our mobile phone devices, where individual applications are given the nickname “apps.”
Another way to understand application software is to compare it with other computer software. In every program that you use on your computer is a piece of application software.
The operating system, on the other hand, is system software. Historically, the application was generally born as computers evolved into systems where you could run a particular codebase on a given operating system
Also read computer memory meaning
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