2007-02-13 20:43:43 · 15 answers · asked by guray cilmi 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Software, or program, enables a computer to perform specific tasks, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software or custom software made to user specifications.
Practical computer systems divide software into three major classes: system software, programming software and application software, although the distinction is arbitrary, and often blurred.
System software helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It includes operating systems, device drivers, diagnostic tools, servers, windowing systems, utilities and more. The purpose of systems software is to insulate the applications programmer as much as possible from the details of the particular computer complex being used, especially memory and other hardware features, and such accessory devices as communications, printers, readers, displays, keyboards, etc.
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 text editors, compilers, interpreters, linkers, debuggers, and so on. An Integrated development environment (IDE) merges those tools into a software bundle, and a programmer may not need to type multiple commands for compiling, interpreter, debugging, tracing, and etc., because the IDE usually has an advanced graphical user interface, or GUI.
Application software allows end users to accomplish one or more specific (non-computer related) tasks. Typical applications include industrial automation, business software, educational software, medical software, databases, and computer games. Businesses are probably the biggest users of application software, but almost every field of human activity now uses some form of application software. It is used to automate all sorts of functions.
2007-02-13 21:09:15 · answer #1 · answered by lionheart30 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
(ANS) What is Software? actually thats a very good question really. Software is very etheral, very fragile, very difficult to understand in some respects. Why? because you cannot taste, touch or get a hold of it like you can a hammer for example, so it seems very tenuios.
Software can be thought of as the oil or lubricant that helps run your computer, just as a car engine requires oil to make the working parts move smoothly together, to work as a whole machine. So software is what makes a computer work as an intelligent system that can perform complex tasks.
**Software ultimately is just a whole bunch of zero's ( 0000's) and one's (111111's) but these numbers related to on & off switches or magnetic responses of positive or negative.
**Software is made up from code, its the code that deeper down in the layers is made up of 0's & 1's.
**For example the MS windows XP operating system is made up from 40 million lines of code (again all just 0's & 1's) and the latest Microsoft Windows Vista has 50 million lines of code.
IR
2007-02-13 21:03:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Software, or program, enables a computer to perform specific tasks, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software or custom software made to user specifications.
2007-02-13 23:02:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Software is simply the programs that you can use on a computer. Microsoft Word is software, as compared to a computer which is the hardware.
2007-02-13 20:52:17 · answer #4 · answered by Lillian L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If hardware of computer could be compared to human body than software is the soul of the body. Hardware does what software makes it to do.
2007-02-13 21:01:24 · answer #5 · answered by Vinni 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Software is the non-physical part of your computer.It is the program which tells the computer what to do through instructions which is written by a special languages called programming languages.
2007-02-13 20:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in short software (in computing terms) is any piece of computer code that is installed on a computer to enable the computer to perform the tasks you ask of it.
for example: software enables the hardware to do a wide range of task from simply reading and writing data from and to your hard drives to more complex tasks such as complex scientific calculations or a computer operating system, word processing etc. etc.
hardware is the physical components that make up the computer system, the chasis, the PSU, main or mother board, CPU, RAM, GPU, hard drives, optical (cd/DVD) drives etc.
2007-02-13 21:47:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
software all the instructions that are on your computer to start up
softeware you cant touch
Hardware you can touch such as , mouse keyboard, printer, software is the programme that tells what the computer to do its what your using when you tupying sending email
2007-02-13 20:54:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A program in a PC... Like Microsoft word or Excel... etc.... All the programs that you can install into a computer.. Hardware is the actual PC,Or printer,motherboard etc... For more info go to http/www.google.co.uk
2007-02-13 20:50:01 · answer #9 · answered by Georgie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hard ware is the physical components of a computer plc or automated mechanism. e.g. Resistor capacitors and contacts.
Software is a set of codes and rules of behaviour loaded in to the memory of the hard ware to dictate the response to a set of inputs or situations.
If you mean clothing anything like cotton of flannel.
2007-02-13 20:51:28 · answer #10 · answered by hoegaarden_drinker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋