Types of Software

Types of Software and how to integrate it Into your Workflow

Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and execute specific tasks. It is the opposite of hardware, which describes the physical aspects of a computer.

software, instructions that tell a computer what to do. Software comprises the entire set of programs, procedures, and routines associated with the operation of a computer system. The term was coined to differentiate these instructions from hardware—i.e., the physical components of a computer system. A set of instructions that directs a computer’s hardware to perform a task is called a program, or software program.

The two main types of software are system software and application software. System software controls a computer’s internal functioning, chiefly through an operating system, and also controls such peripherals as monitors, printers, and storage devices. 

Application software, by contrast, directs the computer to execute commands given by the user and may be said to include any program that processes data for a user. Application software thus includes word processors, spreadsheets, database management, inventory and payroll programs, and many other “applications.” A third software category is that of network software, which coordinates communication between the computers linked in a network.

Examples and Types of Software

There are several types of software based on their functionalities, which are as follows-

System Software

System software allows the user to run computer software or hardware and is responsible for managing their interaction with each other. It perpetually runs in the background to maintain the basic functionalities and the hardware of the computer. It essentially acts as a mediator between the computer and the user to facilitate operations. System software is of four types, which are as follows-

Operating System – The operating system is a collection of software that helps execute programs and offers a computer application’s general services. There are various types of operating systems, such as iOS, macOS, Windows, Unix, Linux, and Ubuntu, among others.

Device Drivers – Device drivers handle the operations of the hardware devices connected to a computer. They act as a software interface for the hardware devices so that applications and the operating system of a computer can run the hardware functions without having the knowledge of the hardware’s exact specifications.

Firmware – Firmware is embedded in the read-only memory of a system and is a type of permanent software that offers low-level control for certain device hardware.

Utility – Utility software functions to configure, maintain, and offer support in the analysis and optimization of the computer.

Application Software

Application software or application programs are end-user programs that serve specific functionality to help users accomplish certain tasks. This includes graphic designing, researching online, drafting documents, watching movies or playing games, and managing finance among others. Developers keep creating software applications based on the evolving needs of users. There are various types of application software, which are as follows-

Word Processors – Word processor software, as the name suggests, is designed for making notes, typing data, and documentation. Users can also format, store, and print their data and documents respectively using word processes.

Database Software – Also known as Database Management System (DBMS), database software allows users to perform various operations on quickly retrieved data, such as creation, management, organization, and modification. Some popular examples of DBMS are MS Access, dBase, MySQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and FileMaker.

Multimedia Software – Users can perform certain actions on their computer, such as playing and recording music and video files as well as creating images with the help of multimedia software. This type of software has a massive application in the field of graphic designing where users create gifs, images, animations, and edit videos. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Windows Movie Maker and Media Player, Corel Draw, and Picasa are some common types of multimedia processors.

Web Browsers – Web Browsers are used for browsing the internet and their primary function is to allow users to fetch data across the web and also position the data. In simpler terms, you would access the internet with the help of web browsers so that you find the information that you need. Chrome, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, and UC Browser are very commonly used web browsers.

Freeware – Freeware software is made available free of cost for a lifetime and it can be downloaded from the internet. This type of software is generally created by companies to improve their reach and gain more popularity. Some such software that is available free of cost for different purposes are Skype, Audacity, Zoom, Adobe Reader, WhatsApp, etc.

Shareware – Shareware, much like Freeware, can be downloaded from the internet. However, the main difference between both is that, while freeware can be used for an unlimited amount of time without having to make any payment, shareware can be used on a trial basis. Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop, WinZip, and PHP Debugger are some popular types of shareware software.

Open-Source – Open-source software is also available on the internet free of cost. However, what differentiates them from freeware is that they are available with their source code. This means users who download open-source software can make changes and transformations to it and even add features to it.