What Is Computer Software?

There are two major pieces to the efficient operation of computers of any size, personal or large commercial servers – hardware and software. While the comparisons are not completely accurate, it might help to view the software as the plan and fuel that help a computer to run. Without software, computers are boxes of plastic and metal that won’t accomplish much.

The software puzzle actually includes several different pieces: applications such as the word processors for text; the instructions programmed into a computer that help the various parts of the computer to work and work together; and of course the operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS, Linux and others that provide the overall plan for the operation of the computer. There are a few other types of software that have special tasks, such as testing programs.

Some have described computer software as anything that is not hardware, that is, anything that isn’t the frame, keyboard, monitor, hard drive etc. In this definition, it helps to visualize software as information and instructions that are used by the system so that it will operate as planned.

The terms “hard” and “soft” are applied because the physical “box,” keyboard, monitor etc. are hard and can by physically touched. Software is generally “untouchable” in that it is the programming instructions that make the computer work but can’t be seen or felt.

People who are familiar with the World Wide Web, email and so on can thank software for the many tasks they can accomplish. Even if the user doesn’t understand HTML, XML and so on, they might want to grasp these and other items as software. Programming languages and code are definitely included in the software group.

As the computer has gravitated from being huge machines for commercial or academic use to the individual desktop, software has transformed as well. Software programs and languages have been refined to accomplish specific jobs and have made their way into small kitchen appliances, home entertainment centers and personal vehicles.

In a more technical view, software can be the “language” made up of millions of combinations of “0s” and “1s.” This is referred to as binary language or code. The primary task for this software is to “instruct” the computer how and when to move from one task or state to another. Most histories that focus on computer technology give credit to John W. Tukey for applying the term to computer instructions, language and so on.

One good explanation for computer software includes a comparison to “job descriptions” for human beings. Without software, the computer wouldn’t know what to do. Fortunately, computer users today are able to purchase software that is complex and far-reaching in the ability it gives to the computer hardware. Unlike computer users of earlier decades, much of the complexity is hidden and never experience by the end user. The computer gets its instructions and performs tasks that would seem miraculous to those who haven’t experienced computers.

The bottom line is that software is the set of instructions that keeps the computer on task.

 Print This Page