Software

Software

Software is a general term used to describe a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that perform some tasks on an operating system.

The term includes:

* Application software such as word processors which perform productive tasks for users. * Multimedia applications for playing multimedia. * Firmware which is software programmed resident to electrically programmable memory devices on board mainboards or other types of integrated hardware carriers. * Middleware which controls and co-ordinates distributed systems.

Software includes websites, programs, video games etc. that are coded by programming languages like C, C++, etc.

* System software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to provide the necessary services for application software. * Testware which is an umbrella term or container term for all utilities and application software that serve in combination for testing a software package but not necessarily may optionally contribute to operational purposes. As such, testware is not a standing configuration but merely a working environment for application software or subsets thereof.

"Software" is sometimes used in a broader context to mean anything which is not hardware but which is used with hardware, such as film, tapes and records.

Updated Terminology

The term is now being used to include those that are non PC based like smartphones, palm OS, etc due to the proliferation of the mobile industry based on Symbian and Windows platforms.

"Software" is sometimes used in a broader context to mean anything which is not hardware but which is used with hardware, such as film, tapes and records.

...just in case you wanted to know!