Basics of Computers - Software Concepts

In a computer system, the software is basically a set of instructions or

commands that tells a computer what to do. Or in other words, the software
is a computer program that provides a set of instructions to execute a user’s
commands and tell the computer what to do. For example like MS-Word,
MS-Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
As you know, the hardware devices need user instructions to function. A set of
instructions that achieve a single outcome are called program or procedure. Many
programs functioning together to do a task make a software.
For example, a word-processing software enables the user to create, edit and save
documents. A web browser enables the user to view and share web pages and
multimedia files. There are two categories of software −

 System Software
 Application Software
 Utility Software
Let us discuss them in detail.

System Software
System software is software that directly operates the computer hardware and
provides the basic functionality to the users as well as to the other software to
operate smoothly. Or in other words, system software basically controls a
computer’s internal functioning and also controls hardware devices such as
monitors, printers, and storage devices, etc. It is like an interface between
hardware and user applications, it helps them to communicate with each other
because hardware understands machine language(i.e. 1 or 0) whereas user
applications are work in human-readable languages like English, Hindi,
German, etc. so system software converts the human-readable language into
machine language and vice versa.
Features of system software:
Let us discuss some of the features of System Software:
1. System Software is closer to the computer system.
2. System Software is written in a low-level language in general.
3. System software is difficult to design and understand.
4. System software is fast in speed(working speed).
5. System software is less interactive for the users in comparison to
application software.

Based on its function, system software is of three types −

 Operating System
 Language Processor
 Device Drivers
1.
Operating System: It is the main program of a computer system. When the
computer system ON it is the first software that loads into the computer’s
memory. Basically, it manages all the resources such as memory, CPU, printer,
hard disk, etc., and provides an interface to the user, which helps the user to
 interact with the computer system. It also provides various services to other
computer software. Examples of operating systems are Linux, Apple macOS,
Microsoft Windows, etc.
2. Language Processor: As we know that system software converts the human-
readable language into a machine language and vice versa. So, the conversion is
done by the language processor. It converts programs written in high-level
programming languages like Java, C, C++, Python, etc(known as source code), into
sets of instructions that are easily readable by machines(known as object code or
machine code).

As discussed earlier, an important function of system software is to convert all user

instructions into machine understandable language. When we talk of human
machine interactions, languages are of three types −
 Machine-level language − This language is nothing but a string of 0s and 1s
that the machines can understand. It is completely machine dependent.
 Assembly-level language − This language introduces a layer of abstraction
by defining mnemonics. Mnemonics are English like words or symbols used
to denote a long string of 0s and 1s. For example, the word “READ” can be
defined to mean that computer has to retrieve data from the memory. The
complete instruction will also tell the memory address. Assembly level
language is machine dependent.
 High level language − This language uses English like statements and is
completely independent of machines. Programs written using high level
languages are easy to create, read and understand.
Program written in high level programming languages like Java, C++, etc. is called
source code. Set of instructions in machine readable form is called object code or
machine code. System software that converts source code to object code is called
language processor. There are three types of language interpreters−
 Assembler − Converts assembly level program into machine level program.
 Interpreter − Converts high level programs into machine level program line by
line.
 Compiler − Converts high level programs into machine level programs at one
go rather than line by line.

3. Device Driver: A device driver is a program or software that controls a device and
helps that device to perform its functions. Every device like a printer, mouse,
modem, etc. needs a driver to connect with the computer system eternally. So,
when you connect a new device with your computer system, first you need to
install the driver of that device so that your operating system knows how to
control or manage that device.
Application Software
Software that performs special functions or provides functions that are much more than
the basic operation of the computer is known as application software. Or in other words,
application software is designed to perform a specific task for end-users. It is a product
or a program that is designed only to fulfill end-users’ requirements. It includes word
processors, spreadsheets, database management, inventory, payroll programs, etc.
Features of application software:
Let us discuss some of the features of Application Software:
6. An important feature of application software is it performs more specialized tasks
like word processing, spreadsheets, email, etc.
7. Mostly, the size of the software is big, so it requires more storage space.
8. Application software is more interactive for the users, so it is easy to use and
design.
9. The application software is easy to design and understand.
10. Application software is written in a high-level language in general.
Types of application software:
There are different types of application software and those are:
11. General Purpose Software: This type of application software is used for a variety
of tasks and it is not limited to performing a specific task only. For example, MS-
Word, MS-Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
12. Customized Software: This type of application software is used or designed to
perform specific tasks or functions or designed for specific organizations. For
example, railway reservation system, airline reservation system, invoice
management system, etc.

Utility Software
Application software that assist system software in doing their work is called utility
software. Thus utility software is actually a cross between system software and
application software. Examples of utility software include −
 Antivirus software
 Disk management tools
 File management tools
 Compression tools
 Backup tools
Difference between system software and application software
Now, let us discuss some difference between system software and application software:

System Software Application Software

It is designed to manage the resources of
the computer system, like memory and
process management, etc.
Written in a low-level language
Less interactive for the users
System software plays vital role for the
effective functioning of a system.
It is independent of the application
software to run.
It is designed to fulfill the requirements of
the user for performing specific tasks.
Written in a high-level language
More interactive for the users
Application software is not so important
for the functioning of the system, as it is
task specific.
It needs system software to run.

Sample Problems
Question 1. Which one of the following is not software?
(A) MS-Word
(B) MS-Excel
(C) Keyboard
(D) Microsoft windows
Solution:

The correct option is C, i.e.,Keyboard

Because a keyboard is not software, as it is a hardware device( input device).
Question 2. Which one of the following is acts as an interface between the user and
the computer hardware?
(A) Monitor
(B) Operating system
(C) User thread
(D) Application program
Solution:
The correct option is B, i.e., Operating System.
Because an operating system provides an interface to the user, which helps the user to
interact with the computer system.
Question 3. The only language that the computer can process or execute is called
___________ ?
(A) Machine language
(B) Normal language
(C) Computer language
(D) High-level language
Solution:
The correct option is A, i.e.,Machine language
The only language that the computer can process or execute is called machine language
as this language is capable of telling the computer explicitly what to do.
Question 4. Which of the following software is used to control the operations of a
computer?
(A) Application Software

(B) System Software

(C) Utility Software
(D) Language Processor
Solution:
The correct option is B, i.e.,System Software
There are two types of software: system software and application software. System
Software is used to control the operations and also controls a computer’s internal
functioning and hardware devices.
Question 5. Which one of the following software is designed to solve a specific
problem or to do a specific task?
(A) Language Processor
(B) Application Software
(C) System Software
(D) Utility Software
Solution:
The correct option is B, i.e., Application Software
Because a software that performs special functions or provides function which are much
more than basic operation of the computer are application software.
Question 6. Which one of the following is not an example of an operating system?
(A) Linux
(B) Apple macOS
(C) Microsoft Windows,
(D) None of the above
Solution:
The correct option is D, i.e., None of the above
Because Linux, Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows are the examples of operating systems.
Question 7. Which of the following is a language processor?
(A) C++ programming language
(B) Compiler
(C) Linux
(D) All of the above
Solution:
The correct option is B, i.e., Compiler
Because a language processor is designed or used to convert program code to machine
code. So, a compiler is a language processor and used in C/C++ programming language.