Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices.

(The term hardware describes the physical aspects of computers and related devices.) Software is often divided into application software (programs that do work users are directly interested in) and system software (which includes operating systems and any program that supports application software).
Examples of computer software include:

Application software includes end-user applications of computers such as word processors or video games, and ERP software for groups of users. Middleware controls and co-ordinates distributed systems. Programming languages define the syntax and semantics of computer programs. For example, many mature banking applications were written in the COBOL language, originally invented in 1959. Newer applications are often written in more modern programming languages.

System software includes operating systems, which govern computing resources. Today[when?] large[quantify]applications considered
[by whom?]

running

on

remote

machines

such

as Websites are

to be system software, because

[citation needed]

the end-user interface is generally

through a graphical user interface, such as a web browser.

Testware is software for testing hardware or a software package. Firmware is low-level software often stored on electrically programmable memory devices. Firmware is given its name because it is treated like hardware and run ("executed") by other software programs.

Shrinkware is the older name given to consumer-purchased software, because it was often sold in retail stores in a shrink-wrapped box. Device drivers control parts of computers such as disk drives, printers, CD drives, or computer monitors. Programming tools help conduct computing tasks in any category listed above. For programmers, these could be tools for debugging or reverse engineering older legacy systems in order to check source code compatibility.

Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform singular or multiple related specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with documents. Apps may be bundled with the computer and its system software, or may be published separately. Some users are satisfied with the bundled apps and need never install one. Application software applies the power of a particular computing platform or system software to a particular purpose. Some apps such as Microsoft Office are available in versions for several different platforms; others have narrower requirements and are thus called, for example, a Geography application for Windows or an Android application for education or Linux gaming.

Information worker software

Enterprise Resource Planning Accounting software Task and Scheduling Data Management Contact Management Spreadsheet Personal Database Documentation Document Automation/Assembly Word Processing Desktop publishing software Diagramming Software Presentation software E-mail Blog Banking systems Clearing systems arithmetic software

Content access software

Electronic media software Web browser Media Players Hybrid editor players

Entertainment software

Digital pets Screen savers Video Games Arcade games Video game console emulator Personal computer games Console games Mobile games

Educational software

Classroom Management Learning/Training Management Software Reference software Sales Readiness Software Survey Management

Simulation software

Computer simulators Scientific simulators Social simulators Battlefield simulators Emergency simulators Vehicle simulators Flight simulators Driving simulators

Enterprise infrastructure software

Business workflow software Database management system (DBMS) software Digital asset management (DAM) software

Simulation games Vehicle simulation games

Media development software

Image organizer Media content creating/editing 3D computer graphics software Animation software Graphic art software Image editing software Raster graphics editor Vector graphics editor Video editing software Sound editing software Digital audio editor Music sequencer Scorewriter Hypermedia editing software Web Development Software Game development tool

Product engineering software

Hardware Engineering Computer-aided engineering Computer-aided design (CAD) Finite Element Analysis Software Engineering Computer Language Editor Compiler Software Integrated Development
Environments Game creation software Debuggers Program testing tools License manager

System Software
System Software have direct control and access to your computer hardware , and memory locations . They perform I/O operations on various memory locations , and control the hardware , to make the application software do a task . Operating systems , are the main examples for system software . Exampls : 1) Microsoft Windows 2) Linux 3) Unix 4) Mac OSX 5) DOS 6) BIOS Software 7) HD Sector Boot Software 8) Device Driver Software i.e Graphics Driver etc 9) Linker Software 10) Assembler and Compiler Software

Application Software
Application software run under System Software , and are made to do a specific task i.e ( Word Processing etc) , which have indirect access to the hardware (i.e Behind System Software) .

Examples : Web browser, word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software, presentation graphics software. 1) Opera (Web Browser) 2) Microsoft Word (Word Processing) 3) Microsoft Excel (Spreadsheet software) 5) MySQL (Database Software) 6) Microsoft Powerpoint (Presentation Software) 7) iTunes (Music / Sound Software) 8) VLC Media Player (Audio / Video Software ) 9) World of Warcraft (Game Software) 10) Adobe Photoshop (Graphics Software)

Front end tools: are the tools which are used to design the user interface of the application Example Visual basic, .Net, Java, C, C++ etc.

Back End tools: are the tools which are used to design data base(storage design) of the application Example SQL,Ms-Access,Oracle,DB2,SyBase etc.