COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND ITS COMPONENTS / COMPUTER SCIENCE

 Software Of A Computer System and Its Components

By: Yusuf Basirat Bolanle ) 


Topic outline:

- Definition of software

-Components and Divisions of software

- Features of software

- Differences between Software and Hardware

In our previous lesson, we have discussed what the Hardware of a computer system is, we have talked about its categories, functions and features

Today, we shall discuss the Software of a computer system.


What is Software? 

Software of a computer system are the parts of computer that cannot be seen or touched. They are the non-physical parts of a computer system. The computer software contains a set of instruction that will be directing the hardware on what to do and how to perform its tasks. They are mostly referred to as the apps or the programs.



Software is capable of performing many tasks,while the hardware  can only perform mechanical tasks that they are designed for.

 

 Here are the categories of a computer software:

1-  System software and

2-  Application software

1- System Software

System software helps the users to work properly on the computer. They are the set of instructions that enables the hardware to perform their jobs properly. They are the backbone of computer because without them the computer cannot work properly. They help computer to function properly. Example of system software is Window: window 10, window XP , Window 8 and so on 

2- Application Software

Application software are those that help the computer operators to communicate with the computer. They are used to perform some tasks on the computer system.They helps the users to perform one or more tasks. Examples of application software include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint,Paints, Microsoft Excel and so on.


1- Microsoft

Microsoft consists of: Microsoft word (Ms Word), Microsoft excel (Ms Excel), Microsoft Power Point, Photoshop, Adobe Page maker, Paints, CorelDraw and so on.

 

2- Internet browsers 

Internet browsers like like: internet explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Baidu and so on.

 

3- Mobile software Like slack and Pandora

 

The following are the main characteristics Features of a Computer Software

 

a- Software are the non-physical parts of a computer system

b- Software are designed to give instructions to the hardware on what to do

c-  In case of damage or corruption, software can be replaced

d-  It includes numbers, alphabets, alphanumeric symbols, identifiers, keywords and so on

e-  Software can be removed without hardware.

f-It is mainly divided into System software and Application software.

g-Software can be affected by computer viruses and can be transferred


Note:

It is very important to note that:

Hardware and Software of a computer system are working together. In the absent of one, the other may be totally useless. While hardware are the physical parts, then the software are the non-physical parts. The combination of both the hardware and the software make computer effective.

 

 

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