Computer : Software Types and Meaning

Software

Computer software also called a program or simply software is a series of instructions that directs a computer to perform specific tasks or operations. Computer software consists of computer programs, libraries and related non-executable data (such as online documentation or digital media).

There are two main types of software: systems software and application software.

Systems Software

Systems software includes the programs that are dedicated to managing the computer itself, such as the operating system, file management utilities, and disk operating system (or DOS). The operating system manages the computer hardware resources in addition to applications and data. Without systems software installed in our computers we would have to type the instructions for everything we wanted the computer to do.  

Applications Software

Application software, or simply applications, are often called productivity programs or end-user programs because they enable the user to complete tasks such as creating documents, spreadsheets, databases, and publications, doing online research, sending email, designing graphics, running businesses, and even playing games.  

Application software is specific to the task it is designed for and can be as simple as a calculator application or as complex as a word processing application. When you begin creating a document, the word processing software has already set the margins, font style and size, and the line spacing for you. But you can change these settings, and you have many more formatting options available. For example, the word processor application makes it easy to add color, headings,add pictures or delete, copy, move, and change the document's appearance to suit your needs.

Microsoft Word is a popular word-processing application that is included in the software suite of applications called Microsoft Office.

A software suite is a group of software applications with related functionality. For example, office software suites might include word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, and email applications.

Bug

A software bug is an error, flaw, failure or fault in a computer program or system that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways.

Virus

Think of a biological virus – the kind that makes you sick. It’s persistently nasty, restricts you from functioning normally and often requires something powerful to get rid of it.

A computer virus is very similar. Designed to relentlessly replicate, computer viruses infect your programs and files, alter the way your computer operates or stop it from working altogether. It’s estimated that the Conficker virus infected more than 10 million computers in 2009. Thousands of computer viruses now operate over the Internet, and new computer viruses are discovered every day.

How does a computer get virus?

Even if you’re careful you can pick up computer viruses through normal Web activities like:

• Sharing music, files or photos with other users
• Visiting an infected Web site
• Opening spam email or an email attachment
• Downloading free games, toolbars, media players and other system utilities
• Installing mainstream software applications without fully reading license agreements