Computer Software Programs

Application Software

Internet Explorer 8, a website browser - a type of application software

Application software is installed on an operating system (see "Systems Software" below). And as mentioned above, application software tends to perform one main task. A good example of application software would be a website browser; this is the program you are using right now to access this website (for example, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc). A browser's main task is to allow you to surf the internet.

Other popular types of application software - with specific examples - can be found below:

• Word Processing (for example Open Office or Microsoft Office Word) - Allows you to type up documents and letters
• Antivirus Software (for example, AVG, Kaspersky Anti-Virus or Norton Anti-Virus) - Helps protect your computer system against malicious programs called viruses
• Photo Editing (for example, Corel PaintShop, Adobe Photoshop or Paint.net) - Can be used to edit photos and other digital images

Systems Software

Microsoft Windows 7 - an operating system which is the main type of systems software

Systems software is at the very core of any computer system. Without it, a computer couldn't really function properly. Roughly speaking, systems software manages all aspects of a computer system. The main example of systems software is the operating system - the software that your computer loads up when you switch it on, and which all application software is installed upon. Examples include Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista, 7, etc), Apple Mac OS X and Linux.

Other types of systems software are described below:

• Device Drivers are pieces of software which allow hardware components to function correctly inside the system. They mainly operate 'in the background' hence it's likely that an average user wouldn't have any contact with the drivers themselves.
• Utilities - also called 'Utility tools' - are tools which help check, analyze, monitor and maintain different parts of the computer. They usually come pre-installed with an operating system. An example would be 'Disk Defragment' or 'Disk Cleanup' on Windows-based systems.

As the following list shows, this category has various topics relating to software programs, such as information about the best antivirus software (antivirus protection is critical to your computer's health and safety), photo editing software and more.