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SOFTWARE
Computer programs.
More Detailed Definition:
Computer instructions or data.
Anything that can be stored electronically is software. The
storage devices and display devices are hardware.
The terms software and hardware are used as both nouns and
adjectives. For example, you can say: "The problem lies in the
software," meaning that there is a problem with the program or
data, not with the computer itself. You can also say: "It's a
software problem."
The distinction between software and hardware is sometimes
confusing because they are so integrally linked. Clearly, when you
purchase a program, you are buying software. But to buy the
software, you need to buy the disk (hardware) on which the
software is recorded.
Software is often divided into two categories:
- systems software : Includes the operating system and all the
utilities that enable the computer to function.
- applications software : Includes programs that do real work for
users. For example, word processors, spreadsheets, and database
management systems fall under the category of applications
software.
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