Computer Software Basics

💻 What is Computer Software?

Computer Software is a set of instructions, programs, or data that tells a computer what to do. Unlike hardware (physical parts of a computer like CPU, RAM), software is intangible — you cannot touch it, but it makes the hardware work.

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📚 Two Main Types of Software:

Type	What it Does	Examples
System Software	Controls and manages hardware, runs the system.	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Application Software	Helps users do specific tasks.	Microsoft Word, Excel, Chrome, Photoshop, games.

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✅ 1. System Software (Runs the Computer)

a. Operating System (OS)

• The main software that manages all other programs and hardware.

• Examples:

  • Windows 10/11 (Microsoft)

  • macOS (Apple)

  • Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora)

  • Android (for mobile devices)

  • iOS (for iPhones, iPads)

Functions of OS:

• Manage hardware resources (CPU, RAM, storage).

• Run and control other software.

• Manage files and folders.

• Provide user interface (UI).

b. Device Drivers

• Special programs that allow hardware to work with the OS.

• Example: Printer driver, graphics card driver.

c. Utility Programs

• Help maintain, analyze, and optimize a computer.

• Examples:

  • Antivirus software.

  • Disk cleanup tools.

  • File compression tools (e.g., WinRAR, 7-Zip).

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✅ 2. Application Software (Helps You Work and Play)

a. Productivity Software

Software	Purpose
Microsoft Word	Word processing (documents, letters).
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheets, data analysis.
Google Docs/Sheets	Online collaboration, documents.
PowerPoint, Keynote	Presentations.

b. Web Browsers

• Access the internet.

• Examples: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari.

c. Media Players

• Play audio and video.

• Examples: VLC Media Player, Windows Media Player, iTunes.

d. Graphic Design & Video Editing

• Photoshop, Illustrator (Adobe) — Design and edit images.

• Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro — Video editing.

e. Games and Entertainment

• Fortnite, Minecraft, Call of Duty, and others.

f. Business and Enterprise Software

• ERP systems (SAP, Oracle), CRM software (Salesforce), accounting software (QuickBooks).

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🎯 Other Important Software Types:

Type	Purpose	Examples
Programming Software	Writing code.	Visual Studio, Eclipse, VS Code.
Database Software	Manage data.	MySQL, Oracle, MS SQL Server.
Security Software	Protect against viruses.	Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender.
Communication Software	Chat, calls.	Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack.
Cloud Services	Online storage and apps.	Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive.

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🧠 How Software and Hardware Work Together:

• Hardware: Physical device (like a phone or computer).

• Software: Instructions that tell hardware what to do.

📱 Example:

• Phone (hardware) + Instagram (software) = Post photos, send messages.

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✅ Summary (In Simple Words):

Software is like the "brain" that tells a computer what to do. System Software runs the computer. Application Software helps you do work or have fun.