Software

What is Software?

Software is a set of instructions or commands given to computer in order for it to perform a specific function.

Software

Software, also sometimes known as SW, is so many things – and without it, our computers wouldn’t really have anything to do. In its essence, software is part of a system that has instructions and data, which allows the user to interact with the computer and its hardware in some way. Most software comes in the form of programs, which are used to operate anything and everything that is available on a computer.

It is easier to understand the definition of software when contrasting it to the definition of hardware. Hardware refers to the physical computer and device parts, such as a hard drive, memory stick, and monitor. Software, however, is the data and instructions that make the computer run, and help the user interact with it. Internet browsers, for example, require software in order to help you browse the Internet and see what is going on.

All applications, whether web-based, desktop-based, or mobile-based, are forms of software. Think of your iPhone itself as the piece of hardware, with everything that is loaded up on it defined as the software.

All the Details

All programs are software, yet not all software can be defined as programs. Everything that a user downloads, visits, installs, or interacts with is typically software. There are also plenty of forms of software that run in the background, helping to create better user experiences while staying out of sight.

Some of the most important and well-known forms of software include:

  • Antivirus programs
  • Video games
  • Email
  • Databases
  • Operating systems
  • Internet browsers
  • Graphics programs
  • Spreadsheets
  • Word processors
  • Programming languages

This list is severely limited, as there are millions of different types of software and programs that make up the essence of the computer. Some software is free, while others must be purchased and installed. Some software programs can be bought as physical copies (Think of a new video game that you buy at the store and then later install on to your computer), while most can be directly downloaded as an executable file from the provider website.

How it Works

Software is typically installed on to the computer’s hard drive, which is a type of hardware. This software can then be accessed and used by the computer user, and can be found by searching on a Start menu or finding the shortcut icon on their desktop.

How Software is Created

Software is typically created by computer programmers, who will write a set of instructions and codes using a programming language. This language explains what the software should do, how it should function, and what its limits are. After it has been written, it is then compiled in a way that makes it easy to be installed on a hard drive. After that, the user should be able to interact with it.

The first software program in existence was a simple calculator program held in electronic memory. It was created by Tom Kilburn and it was asked to calculate the highest factor of 2^18 = 262,144. The program was successful on June 21, 1948, and the rest is history.