Difference between "application" and "software"?

Question

What is the difference between an "Application" and A "Software"?

Answer 1

Software refers to any and all programs, scripts, file systems and other machine code instruction. MS Word is software, the MS Vista operating system is software, MS SQL Server DBMS is software & hidden components of MS Word are also software.

An Application is a sub-type of software. It is software designed and packaged to perform a specific purpose or set of purposes. It usually refers to software packaged for a practical purpose (like image editing), rather than games. MS Word is a Word Processing Application. Vista is not in itself an application, although it may be bundled with several applications. Components of Applications (e.g. subroutines, printer drivers, etc.) are software, but not applications.

Many people use these terms interchangeably.

Answer 2

Software is a broad category in which application is one of the categories of software.

However, software and application is often used as a synomym, interchangibly.

The truth of the issue is as stated above, software is a broad area in which application is one of its categories.

The two primary categories are Operating Systems (system software), which control the workings of the computer, and Application software, which addresses the multitude of tasks that people use computers to complete.

Software is broken down into several categories:

Computer programs, instructions which cause the hardware--the machines--to do work.

Application programs, which handle all the myriad tasks users utilize to perform daily tasks, such as word programs, database management, email, design, music, ect.

Network software, which enables computers and people to comunicate with each other, and,

Language software, which enables programmers to write the code which creates the other software programs.

Here is a link which I think would assist you in seeing the small but signifacant differences between "software" as a whole, and how "applications" are a part of software. You can easily see why these terms are often used interchangibly, as they are so simular. However, there *is* is bit of difference, in that applications are a subcategory of software as a whole.

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562880/Software.html

Hope this helps, have a nice day and a happy holiday season.

Answer 3

Hi Mailme -

For all practical purposes the terms can be used interchangably, along with "software".

"Definition of: application

(1) A set of files that make up software for the user. The terms "application" and "application program" are synonymous; however, there could be a technical difference if both terms are used in the same conversation. In that case, "application" would refer to the complete set of files that have to be installed (executables, configuration files, ancillary data files, etc.), whereas the "application program" would refer to just one executable file. See application program.

(2) A specific use of the computer, such as for payroll, inventory and billing. For a list of major application software categories, see application software."

From PC mag:
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=application&i=37892,00.asp

hope that's of interest!

Answer 4

An application is a program (Such as IE, FireFox, Microsoft Word)
Software are bits of code in a specific format, they can be applications but could be anything stored on a computer ( music, images, etc)

Answer 5

application would be that file which You double click/open when You want to run a program.

Software - Is called all the programs (OpenSource or with restrictions)