What is a Software?

What is a software? It’s a set of instructions written using a computer programming language. It’s installed in computing devices such as computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets to perform a specific task by collaborating with computer hardware. Generally based on its functionality, software can be categorized into systems, applications, and malware.

Second, computers perform various actions such as display media on monitors, print documents, or play music. All of these actions are performed by executing instructions written on software. When these instructions are executed, they get converted into binary format (i.e. 1s and 0s which are understood by the computers’ Central Processing Unit (CPU) as electric signals). Consequently, the CPU processes these signals to convert the input data into output information.

What are the categories of Software?

Software devices are usually categorized into 3 main categories based on their functionality.

1. System software includes the following categories.Operating Systems (OS) – it manages resources and provides common services to other software that runs on top of it.
   Device Drivers – It controls a specific hardware device attached to a computer system and enables it to communicate with the OS.
   Utilities – It assists the users to manage, maintain, configure, and optimize their computers.
2. On the other hand, applications are very common nowadays. In fact, you probably have a dozen of them on your devices. They’re the software applications used daily for various tasks such as browsing the internet, calculations, entertainment, keeping notes, storing media, and many more.
3. Malware is also known as malicious software and is intentionally designed to harm and disrupt the computer system.