Difference between Program and Product Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report A program is a set of instructions written by a programmer to perform a specific task on a computer. In contrast, a product is a complete software solution developed through a series of stages, known as the software development life cycle, to address a specific problem or need for an enterprise. Programs are simpler and reside passively in memory, while products are complex, actively produced, and distributed to users. Understanding these differences helps clarify their distinct roles and development processes in the tech industry.What is Program?The use and need of computers is widespread in today's world. The computer system is however incapable of working on its own and needs certain instructions to do anything. These instructions are provided to the computer system by a computer programmer. A collection of instructions meant to perform a specific task, written by a computer programmer is called a program.What is Product?Product is made only on the request of an enterprise. The team of developers undertakes the making of the product (called project). A software product is the finished project which was made after performing the various software development life cycle stages. After the completion of these stages the product comes into existence. It is then made in more numbers, for distribution. The software product is made to solve a specific problem.Difference between Program and Product AspectProgramProductNature and PurposeProgram contains a set of instructions designed to complete a specific task.Product is the final manufacture and production of the project.Entity TypeIt is a passive entity as it resides in the secondary memory.It is an active entity as it is made again and again for the purpose of distribution to users.ExistenceIt exists at a single place and continues to exist until it is deleted.A product can exist for a long period of time as long as it is tested for better performance and durability. A specific software product would stop existing if it is destroyed or uninstalled.Development TimeIt can be made in relatively shorter period of time.It needs a lot of time to be made. There are several stages (design, coding, testing, maintenance etc.) to form a product.ManagementIt is handled by the program managers.It is handled by product managers.Resource RequirementsIt does not have any resource requirement, it only requires memory space for storing the instructions.It needs human, technology and time resources to be functional.FocusThe main focus of the program is whether it is giving a specific desired output or not.The main focus of a product is its capability to solve the problem that it was made for.GuidelinesThere are no concrete guidelines in writing a program.In case of product, the firm guidelines are followed.Efficiency and CostIt may or may not focus on efficiency and cost.It needs to worry about the cost and efficiency as it would affect the profitability of the enterprise launching the product. Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Difference between Program and Function S supriya_saxena Follow Improve Article Tags : Difference Between Software Engineering Similar Reads Difference between Program and Process In Computer Science, there are two fundamental terms in operating system: Program and Process. Program is a set of instructions written to perform a task, stored in memory. A process is the active execution of a program, using system resources like CPU and memory. In other words, a program is static 4 min read Difference between Program, Project and Product 1. Program : There are multiple usages of a computer system in the world today. One of such use is observed while writing programs. Programs are instructions given to a computer to perform a specific task. It is a medium of communicating with the computer system. 2. 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