What is software?

Software consists of the programs and instructions that tell a computer what to do and how to do it.

Main types of software

Software can be broadly divided into two main categories: application software and system software.

Application software

Application software helps users carry out specific tasks that are not related to the basic running of the computer.

Common examples of application software:

• Web browsers
• Word processors
• Email clients
• Games

System software

System software manages and maintains the computer's operations and configuration.

The two primary types of system software are:

• Operating systems
• Utility software

Utility software and its functions

Utility software is a subset of system software that helps to keep the computer running smoothly.

Main types of utility software and their functions

Backup utilities:

• Create copies of files that are typically stored on external devices or uploaded to cloud storage.
• Cloud storage can be more cost-effective than physical storage.
• If original files are deleted or lost, they can be restored from the backup.
• Businesses make regular backups to avoid damaging losses.

Virus scanners:

• Scan all files on a computer to detect and remove viruses.
• Must be updated frequently to recognise new viruses.

Compression software:

• Reduces the size of files, making them take up less space on storage devices.
• Smaller files are quicker to send over networks.
• Files often need to be decompressed (expanded back to original size) before use.

Encryption software:

• Scrambles data to make it unreadable to unauthorised users.
• The scrambled data can only be decrypted (returned to readable form) using a special code called a decryption key.

Defragmentation software:

• Improves the speed of reading and writing files on heavily used hard drives.
• Over time, files can become fragmented, meaning their parts are scattered across the drive, which slows access.
• Defragmentation reorganises these parts into continuous blocks, making file access faster.