Software

Software are the programs that tell the computer how to process data and output new information

Off-the-shelf Programs

Programs that are available in shops or for download.

Programs that have been made especially for a company or person to do a specific job (or set of jobs).

Gives the user an interface with the computer and runs tasks that look after the hardware and data stored.

Software that controls the hardware and provides the user interface (e.g. Windows, OSX, Android)

Software that looks after the data (e.g. Antivirus Software)

Programs that are not essential to the running of the computer, but help us complete tasks that we want to do.

One program that can be used to complete many (similar) tasks (e.g. spreadsheet, presentation software)

One program designed to complete one task (e.g. A web browser, accounts software, a game)

Many programs that can work together (with a similar user interface) to complete a variety of different tasks (e.g. MS-Office, Adobe Creative Suite)