Software in a computer refers to the set of programs and data that tell the computer what to do. Unlike hardware (the physical parts), software is intangible.
Main Types of Software
1. System Software
Controls and manages the computer hardware and provides a platform for other software.
Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
Device Drivers: Printer drivers, graphics drivers
Utilities: Antivirus, disk cleanup, file management tools
2. Application Software
Used by users to perform specific tasks.
General-purpose: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Chrome, VLC
Special-purpose: Photoshop, AutoCAD, Tally
Mobile apps: WhatsApp, Instagram
3. Programming Software
Used to create other software.
Compilers & Interpreters: GCC, Python interpreter
IDEs: VS Code, Eclipse
Debuggers
Examples
Writing documents → MS Word
Browsing the internet → Google Chrome
Playing music → Spotify
Coding programs → Python, Java