What is a Software

The software is basically a set of instructions or commands that tell a

computer what to do. In other words, the software is a computer program that
provides a set of instructions to execute a user’s commands and tell the
computer what to do. For example like MS-Word, MS-Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Types of Software
It is a collection of data that is given to the computer to complete a particular
task. The chart below describes the types of software:

Above is the diagram of types of software. Now we will briefly describe each
type and its subtypes:
1. System Software
 Operating System
 Language Processor
 Device Driver
2. Application Software
 General Purpose Software
 Customize Software
 Utility Software
What is System Software?
System software is software that provides a platform for other software. Some
examples can be operating systems, antivirus software, disk
formatting software, computer language translators, etc. These are commonly
prepared by computer manufacturers. This software consists of programs
written in low-level languages, used to interact with the hardware at a very
basic level. System software serves as the interface between the hardware and
the end users.
System software refers to the collection of programs and software components
that enable a computer or computing device to function properly. It acts as an
intermediary between the user and the computer hardware, allowing the user
to interact with the hardware and use various applications and programs.
Some common types of system software include operating systems (such as
Windows, macOS, or Linux), device drivers, utility programs, programming
languages, and system libraries.
Operating systems are the most important type of system software, as they
provide the foundational framework for all other software and applications to
run on the computer. They manage computer resources, such as memory and
processing power, and provide a user interface for users to interact with the
system. Device drivers are another important type of system software, as they
allow the operating system to communicate with hardware devices such
as printers, scanners, and graphics cards. Utility programs provide additional
functionality to the operating system, such as disk defragmentation, virus
scanning, and file compression.
Examples of System Software
System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a
computer’s hardware and application programs and examples of system
software include operating systems (OS) (like macOS, Linux, Android, and
Microsoft Windows), game engines, search engines(like google,Bing,Yahoo!),
industrial automation, computational science software, and (SaS)software as a
service applications.
 Operating systems (OS): Windows, Linux, macOS, etc.
 Device drivers: software that enables the communication between
hardware and OS.
 Firmware: pre-installed low-level software that controls a device’s basic
functions.
 Utility software: tools for system maintenance and optimization.
 Boot loaders: software that initializes the OS during startup.

Why use System Software?
Here are some reasons why system software is necessary:
1. Hardware Communication: System software serves as an interface
between the hardware and software components of a computer, enabling
them to communicate and work together.
2. Resource Management: System software manages computer resources
such as memory, CPU usage, and storage, optimizing their utilization and
ensuring that the system operates efficiently.
3. Security: System software provides security measures such as firewalls,
antivirus software, and encryption, protecting the system and its data from
malware, viruses, and other security threats.
4. User Interface: System software provides a user interface that allows
users to interact with the computer or computing device and perform
various tasks.
5. Application Support: System software supports the installation and
running of applications and software on the system.
6. Customization: System software allows for customization of the system
settings and configuration, giving users greater control over their computing
environment.
Features of System Software
The most important features of system software are as below.
1. Memory Management: operating system perform memory management.
The OS keeps track of the primary memory and allocates the memory when
a process requests it.
2. Processor Management: OS performs process management. Allocates the
main memory (RAM) to a process and de-allocates it when it is no longer
required.
3. File Management: Operating system perform file management. Allocates
and de-allocates the resources and decides who gets the resources.
4. Security: Prevents unauthorized access to programs and data using
passwords.
5. Error-detecting Aids: Production of dumps, traces, error messages, and
other debugging and error-detecting methods.
6. Scheduling: The OS schedules the process through its scheduling
algorithms.
.
Application Software
Software that performs special functions or provides functions that are much
more than the basic operation of the computer is known as application
software. Or in other words, application software is designed to perform a
specific task for end-users. It is a product or a program that is designed only to
fulfill end-users’ requirements. It includes word processors, spreadsheets,
database management, inventory, payroll programs, etc.

“The term “application software” refers to software that performs specific

functions for a user. When a user interacts directly with a piece of software, it
is called application software. The sole purpose of application software is to
assist the user in doing specified tasks. Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as
popular web browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome, are examples of
application software. It also encompasses the category of mobile apps, which
includes apps like WhatsApp for communication and games like Candy Crush
Saga. There are also app versions of popular services, such as weather or
transportation information, as well as apps that allow users to connect with
businesses. Global Positioning System (GPS) , Graphics, multimedia,
presentation software, desktop publishing software, and so on are examples of
such software.”

Types of Application Software

There are different types of application software and those are:
1. General Purpose Software: This type of application software is used for a
variety of tasks and it is not limited to performing a specific task only. For
example, MS-Word, MS-Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
2. Customized Software: This type of application software is used or
designed to perform specific tasks or functions or designed for specific
 organizations. For example, railway reservation system, airline reservation
system, invoice management system, etc.
3. Utility Software: This type of application software is used to support the
computer infrastructure. It is designed to analyze, configure, optimize and
maintains the system, and take care of its requirements as well. For
example, antivirus, disk fragmenter, memory tester, disk repair, disk
cleaners, registry cleaners, disk space analyzer, etc.
Features of Application Software
Let us discuss some of the features of Application Software:
 An important feature of application software is it performs more specialized
tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, email, etc.
 Mostly, the size of the software is big, so it requires more storage space.
 Application software is more interactive for the users, so it is easy to use
and design.
 The application software is easy to design and understand.
 Application software is written in a high-level language in general.

Functions of Application Software

Application software programs are created to help with a wide range of tasks.
Here are a few examples:
 Information and data management
 Management of documents (document exchange systems)
 Development of visuals and video
 Emails, text messaging, audio, and video conferencing, and cooperation are
all options.
 Management of accounting, finance, and payroll
 Management of resources (ERP and CRM systems)
 Management of a project
 Management of business processes
 Software for education (LMS and e-learning systems)
 Software for healthcare applications

Examples of Application Software

Some examples of application software are:
 System for Hotel Management: It relates to the hotel industry’s
management strategies. Hotel administration, accounting, billing,
marketing, housekeeping, and front office or front desk.
 System for Payroll Management: It is a term used by all modern
businesses to refer to every employee who receives a regular salary or
another form of payment. The payroll software calculates all different
payment options and generates the relevant paychecks. Employee salary
slips can also be printed or sent using this software.
 System for Human Resources Management: It describes the systems
and activities that exist at the nexus of Human Resource Management
 (HRM) and Information Technology (IT). The HR department’s role is
primarily administrative and is found in all businesses.
 Attendance Recording System: It’s a piece of software that tracks and
optimizes a person’s or student’s presence in an organization or school.
Nowadays, customers’ existing time/attendance recording devices, such as
biometrics/access cards, can be connected with attendance systems.
Attendance management can be accomplished in two ways: Integration of
biometrics & Integration of manual attendance
 System of Billing: It is the billing software that is utilized to complete the
billing process. It keeps track of marked products and services given to a
single consumer or a group of customers.

Difference Between System Software and Application

Software

Now, let us discuss some difference between system software and application
software:

System Software Application Software

It is designed to manage the

It is designed to fulfill the
resources of the computer system,
requirements of the user for
like memory and process
performing specific tasks.
management, etc.

Written in a low-level language. Written in a high-level language.

Less interactive for the users. More interactive for the users.

System software plays vital role for Application software is not so

the effective functioning of a important for the functioning of
system. the system, as it is task specific.

It is independent of the application It needs system software to run.

 System Software Application Software

software to run.

Computer Hardware?
Computer hardware is a physical device of computers that we can see and
touch. For e.g. Monitor, Central Processing Unit , Mouse, Joystick, etc. Using
these devices, we can control computer operations like input and output.
Computer Hardware Parts
These hardware components are further divided into the following categories,
which are:
1. Input Devices
2. Output Devices
3. Storage Devices
4. Internal Components
1. Input Devices
Input devices are those devices with the help of which the user interacts with
the computer. Or, In other words, with the help of input devices, the user
enters the data or information into the computer. This information or data is
accepted by the input devices and converted into a computer-acceptable
format, which is further sent to the computer system for processing.
Now we discuss some input devices:
 Keyboard: It is the most common and main input device for computers. The
data is inputted by typing on the keyboard. It consists of 104 keys in total. It
contains numeric keys, alphabet keys, and different function keys as well.
Earlier, it was connected to the computer via cable, now as technology has
advanced, you can connect a keyboard using Bluetooth.
 Mouse: A mouse is a kind of pointing device which is rolled over to control
the cursor on the screen and it has functional keys like left, middle, and
right buttons. Using these functional keys, on by the click of which an object
is selected or to open a file by just a click of a mouse. It also consists of a
sensor inside which notifies its speed to the computer and according to
which the cursor is moved on the screen.
 Scanner: As the name suggests, it scans images, documents, etc., and
converts them into digital form and that can be further edited and used. It
works just like a Xerox machine.
 Track Ball: It is a device much like an upside-down mouse. It does not use
much space for movement like a mouse. As the trackball remains stationary
and the user moves the ball in various directions, it affects the screen
movements directly.
 Light Pen: It is a light-sensitive device and it is touched to the CRT
screen where it can detect, a raster on the screen as it passes by and, with
the help of this user can draw anything like lines, figures, or any objects.
 Microphone: It is a kind of voice input system that can be attached to a
computer system to record sounds. It converts human speech or voice
 into electrical signals. This electrical signal is processed by the computer
and the word is recognized.
 Optical Character Reader: It is used to detect alphanumeric characters
that are written or printed on paper using a low-frequency light source. This
light is absorbed by the dark areas and reflected by the light areas, now this
reflected light is received by the photocells. It is like a scanner.
 Bar Code Reader: It is used to read bar codes and convert them into
electric pulse which will further processed by the computer. Here,
the barcode is data that is coded into white and black lines(or light and dark
lines).
2. Output Devices
These are the devices that are used to display the output of any task given to
the computer in human-readable form.
Now we discuss some output devices:
 Monitor: The monitor is the main output device. It is also called VDU(visual
display unit) and it looks like a TV screen. The Monitor displays the
information from the computer. It is used to display text, video, images, etc.
 Printer: A printer is an output device that transfers data from the computer
in a printed format by using text or images on paper. There are both colored
and black & white printers. Further, there are also different types of printers,
like Laser Printer, Dot-matrix printers, and Inkjet printers.
 Plotter: It is similar to a printer but potters are large in size. A plotter is
used to generate large drawings, architectural blueprints, etc. on paper and
these are high-quality images and drawings and large in size.
 Speakers: It is a very common output device and it gives sound as an
output. Speaker is generally used to play music or anything having sound.
3. Storage Devices
There are some devices that are used for storage purposes and are known as
secondary storage devices. Some of them were discussed below:
1. CD (Compact disc): A CD is circular in shape and made up of thin platted
glass and plastic polycarbonate material. It has a storage capacity of 600 MB
to 700 MB of data. It has a standard size of 12 cm with a hole in the center of
about 1.5 cm and 1.2 mm in thickness. There are basically 3 types of CDs,
which are:
 CD-ROM (CD – Read Only Memory): Contents of this type of CD cannot
be erased by the user. Only the publisher is allowed to access the data
imprinted on this CD. CD-ROM is basically used for commercial purposes like
for a music album or any application package by a software company.
 CD-R (CD-Recordable): In this, content or data can be stored once. After
that, they can be read many times but the data or content cannot be
rewritten or erased. (Kind of one-time use)
 CD-RW(CD-Rewritable): As the name suggests, this type of CD is used to
rewrite the content or erase previous content and again write new content
many times.
2. DVD (Digital Video/Versatile Disc): A DVD is the same as a CD but with
some more features. A DVD comes in single and dual-layer formats. It has
much greater storage capacity in comparison to CD. The storage capacity of a
DVD with one-sided single layer is – 4.7 GB, one-sided double layer – 8.5 GB,
 double-sided single layer – 9.4 GB, and double-sided double layer – 17 GB.
There are also some types in DVDs, which are :
 DVD-ROM: In this type, the contents of the DVD cannot be written on or
erased by the user. DVD ROM is used for applications and database for
distributing them in large amounts.
 DVD-R / DVD+R: DVD-R (DVD minus R) and DVD+R (DVD plus R) are two
different kinds of discs and they are once recordable format. Also, they have
no difference virtually.
 DVD-RW / DVD+RW: This is a kind of rewritable disc and it allows up to
1,000 rewrites.
 DVD-RAM: DVD RAM is accessed like a hard disk. It provides high data
security and storage capacity. This is a kind of rewritable disc and it allows
up to 1,00,000 rewrites.
3. Hard Disk: An hard disk is a non-volatile storage device that uses its
read/write heads to store digital data on a magnetic surface of a rigid plate. It
is generally 3.5 inches in size for desktops and 2.5 inches in size for laptops. A
hard disk can be classified further into 3 types, which are:
 Internal Hard Disk: It has a common storage capacity stated as GB or TB.
A system case or cabinet is the place where it is located. It can perform
faster operations and its storage is fixed. It is mainly used to store large
data files and programs.
 Internal Cartridges: The Internal hard disk can’t be removed from the
system cabinet easily. To resolve this problem Internal Cartridges are
introduced. So, Internal cartridges are easy to remove CDs. It has a storage
capacity of 2 GB to 160 GB. It is used as an alternative to an internal hard
disk.
 Hard Disk Packs: It is used by organizations such as banks, and
government sector organizations to store large amounts of data. It has a
storage capacity of a range of PB( Peta Bytes).

CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The CPU is also known as the heart of the computer. It consists of three units,
generally known as the control unit, Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU) , and
the memory unit.

Input is given to the CPU through input devices. This input goes to memory and
the control unit gets instructions from memory. The control unit now decides
what to do with the input or instructions and transfers it to ALU. Now, ALU
performs various operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,
logical operations, etc. After that, the final result gets stored in memory and
finally passed to output devices to give the output. So, this is how the CPU
works.
2. Motherboard
It is the main circuit board inside a computer and it contains most of the
electronic components together. All the components of the computer are
directly or indirectly connected to the motherboard. It includes RAM slots,
controllers, system chipsets, etc.
3. RAM (Random Access Memory)
It is also known as temporary or volatile memory. It holds the program and
data, which are currently in process or processing. All the data is erased as
soon as the computer is turned off or in case of a power failure. Data stored in
this memory can be changed. There are two types of RAM:-
1. SRAM (Static RAM): SRAM basically consists of a flip-flop using a transistor
or Mosfet (MOS). It is fast and has less access time. In this refreshing circuits
are not required. But it is costly and requires more space. For e.g. cache
memory.
2. DRAM (Dynamic RAM): DRAM consists of capacitors and the data is stored
in the form of capacitors. Capacitors charge when data is 1 and don’t charge
if data is 0. It requires refreshing circuits, as leakage of current in the
capacitor can occur, so they need to be refreshed to the data. It is slower
and has a higher access time. It is cheaper in comparison with SRAM. For
e.g. Main memory.
4. Video Graphics Array Port
A video input commonly used on computer monitors is called a video graphics
array (VGA) port. Verifying that there isn’t a loose connection, a damaged
cable, or a broken display is one step in troubleshooting a VGA port.
Compressed air can also be sprayed inside the VGA port by a computer expert
to make sure it’s dust-free.
5. Power Supply
All of a computer system’s parts are powered by a power source. Typically, a
power cord is used to connect a computer tower to an electrical outlet. By
turning off the computer, unplugging and separating the power supply cord, or
trying a different cord or socket, a technician can diagnose the power supply.
6. Cooling Fan
A computer’s system to prevent overheating uses cooling fans. To aid
customers who use their computers intensively, such as when streaming video
or playing games, many computers contain more than one cooling fan. If a
user detects their computer overheating, a computer expert might need to
repair the cooling fan. The blades may be examined for any damage and
cleared of any foreign objects. A technician’s standard method
of troubleshooting may involve replacing computer fans.
7. Hard Drive
On a computer system, files, programs, and other types of information are
stored on hard drives, which are data storage devices. They utilise hard drives,
which are magnetically coated discs used to store digital versions of
information. A computer technician can suspect a corrupt hard disk when a
hard drive dies.
Relationship Between Computer Hardware and
Software
 Both the Hardware and software are mutually dependent on each other.
Each should function properly so that the computer produces an output.
 Software utilization can not be done without supporting of the hardware.
 Relevant software should be loaded into the hardware to get the latest
software.
 Hardware is a one-time expense while software is not.
 Software development is very expensive while hardware cant be developed
if in use once.
 Many software applications and their sub-applications can be loaded on
hardware to run different jobs.
 The software acts as an interface between the user and the hardware.

What is Firmware?

Firmware is a small software that is written to Hardware devices in non-volatile

memory. Firmware software programs cannot be changed and they won’t be
erased when there is no power supply. But in the case of software whenever a
programmer wants to change or delete the software code or program it surely
can be done. The programmer can Install and delete the software at any point
in time. On the other hand, Firmware, let’s say BIOS which is an example of
firmware present in the CMOS chip. It won’t be erased after the manufacturers
of the system write it. BIOS helps the system to boot up and which is present in
Non-Volatile memory. RAM is volatile so this type of firmware is stored in non-
volatile so it won’t be erased. There are many types of memory storage which
is capable of storing data and not allows to edit or deleting.
Non-volatile memory devices such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and flash
memory store firmware. These non-volatile memory devices contain
instructions that allow computers and other systems to boot up, to run the
software.

Types of Firmware:

There are two types of firmware that can be serviced:

 System firmware: By controlling the flow of instructions and data between
the hardware and software components, system firmware is responsible for
providing critical boot and runtime services to the system as a whole. As a
result, system firmware manages a device’s core functions such as
hardware initialization, system configuration, and power management.
 Device firmware: Device firmware is associated with a particular device
integrated into a system. A firmware update is a software program that can
be used to update the firmware in these devices. Firmware updates can be
used to improve the device’s performance, reliability, and security.