Software

Software is anything that can be stored electronically. Software exists as ideas, concepts, and symbols, but has no substance.

We generally think of two types of software, application and systems.

Applications software includes programs that do real work for users. Examples of application software includes things like word processors, graphics, spreadsheets, communications, databases and games.

Systems software includes the operating system and all the utilities that enable the computer to function. The operating system (OS) enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer Operating System a computer and software programs would be useless.

Examples of systems software are Windows and Linux.