Define Software

Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related
devices. (The term hardware describes the physical aspects of computers and related devices.)
Software can be thought of as the variable part of a computer and hardware the invariable part.
Software is often divided into application software (programs that do work users are directly interested
in) and system software (which includes operating systems and any program that supports application
software). The term middleware is sometimes used to describe programming that mediates between
application and system software or between two different kinds of application software (for example,
sending a remote work request from an application in a computer that has one kind of operating system
to an application in a computer with a different operating system).
Define Software Engineering
The computer science discipline concerned with developing largeapplications. Software engineering
covers not only the technical aspects of building software systems, but also management issues, such as
directing programming teams, scheduling, and budgeting.
(software engineer) programmer: a person who designs and writes and tests computer programs.
Computer Software
Computer software is defined as a set of programs and procedures that are intended to perform specific
tasks on a computer system. A software program is a set of instructions that are aimed at changing the
state of computer hardware. At the lowest level, software is in the form of an assembly language, a set
of instructions in a machine-understandable form. At the highest level, software is in the form of high-
level languages, which are compiled or interpreted into machine language code.

Major Types of Software
Computer software systems are classified into three main types, namely, system software, programming
software and application software. System software comprises device drivers, operating systems,
servers and other such software components, which help the programmer abstract away from the
memory and hardware features of the system. Programming software assists the programmer in writing
programs by providing him/her with tools such as editors, compilers, linkers, debuggers and more.
Application software, one of the most important types of software, is used to achieve certain specific
tasks.

What is Application Software?
Application software utilizes the capacities of a computer directly for a dedicated task. Application
software is able to manipulate text, numbers and graphics. It can be in the form of software focused on
a certain single task like word processing, spreadsheet or playing of audio and video files. Here we look
at the application software types along with some examples of application software of each type.

Different Types of Application Software

Word Processing Software: This software enables users to create and edit documents. The most popular
examples of this type of software are MS-Word, WordPad and Notepad among other text editors.

Database Software: Database is a structured collection of data. A computer database relies on database
software to organize data and enable database users to perform database operations. Database
software allows users to store and retrieve data from databases. Examples are Oracle, MSAccess, etc.

Spreadsheet Software: Excel, Lotus 1-2-3 and Apple Numbers are some examples of spreadsheet
software. Spreadsheet software allows users to perform calculations using spreadsheets. They simulate
paper worksheets by displaying multiple cells that make up a grid.

Multimedia Software: They allow users to create and play audio and video files. They are capable of
playing media files. Audio converters, audio players, burners, video encoders and decoders are some
forms of multimedia software. Examples of this type of software include Real Player and Media Player.

Presentation Software: The software that is used to display information in the form of a slide show is
known as presentation software. This type of software includes three functions, namely, editing that
allows insertion and formatting of text, methods to include graphics in the text and a functionality of
executing slide shows. Microsoft PowerPoint is the best example of presentation software.

Enterprise Software: It deals with the needs of organization processes and data flow. Customer
relationship management or the financial processes in an organization are carried out with the help of
enterprise software.

Information Worker Software: Individual projects within a department and individual needs of creation
and management of information are handled by information worker software. Documentation tools,
resource management tools and personal management systems fall under the category of this type of
application software.

Educational Software: It has the capabilities of running tests and tracking progress. It also has the
capabilities of a collaborative software. It is often used in teaching and self-learning. Dictionaries like
Britannica and Encarta, mathematical software like Matlab and others like Google Earth and NASA
World Wind are some of the well-known names in this category.

Simulation Software: Used to simulate physical or abstract systems, simulation software finds
applications in both, research and entertainment. Flight simulators and scientific simulators are
examples of simulation software.

Content Access Software: It is used to access content without editing. Common examples of content
access software are web browsers and media players.

Application Suites: An application suite is an important type of application software. It consists of a
group of applications combined to perform related functions. OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office are
the best examples of this type of application software. These application suites, as you know, come as
bundles of applications like word processors, spreadsheets, presentation software, etc. Applications in
the suite can work together or operate on each other's files.

Software that aid Engineering and Development of Products: This software is used in the design and
development of hardware and software products. Integrated development environments (IDE) and
computer language editing tools falls under this type of application software. Interestingly, software
products are developed using other software, and software communicate with one another through
software. Application programming interfaces which aid the communication of two or more software,
are examples of this application software type.

Examples

Application Suite
Microsoft Office, iWork, Open Office, etc. are examples of application suite, as they come bundled with
a number of applications like word processor, spreadsheet, etc.

Enterprise Resource Software
There are different kinds of software, that come under the category of enterprise resource software.
The examples of these software are customer relationship management software, financial software,
medical billing software, departmental software, time management software, IT Helpdesk software,
church management software, manufacturing software, etc.

Content Access Software
Most of us have certainly used these kinds of software. You may not agree now, but when I tell you the
names of the software under this category, you will certainly agree. As a matter of fact, you are
currently using one of it. It is the Web Browser. The other examples are media players, help browsers,
etc.

Educational Software
The most commonly used educational software are the learning management software, training
software, reference software (like encyclopedia, etc.), language learning software. Classroom
management software are made with the tutor in mind.

Collaborative Software
The examples of collaborative software are the emails, blogs, Wikipedia, etc.

Enterprise Infrastructure Software
The different database management software, document management software, workflow
management software, digital asset management software, project management software, property
management software, etc. are all included in the enterprise infrastructure software.

Media Development Software
Animation software, desktop publishing software, HTML editing software, etc., are some of the media
development software.