What is software?

Software is a set of instructions, DATA, or PROGRAMS used to operate a COMPUTER and execute specific tasks. In simpler terms, software tells a COMPUTER how to function. It’s a generic term used to refer to APPLICATIONS, SCRIPTS, and programs that run on devices such as PCs, MOBILE PHONES, TABLETS and other smart devices. Software contrasts with HARDWARE, which is a computer's physical aspect that performs the work.

Without software, most computers would be useless. For example, a WEB BROWSER is a software application that allows users to access the internet—without the web browser software, reading this page on Wimsoft.one wouldn’t be possible. An OPERATING SYSTEM (OS) is a software program that serves as the INTERFACE between other applications and the hardware on a computer or mobile device. TCP/IP is built into all major operating systems to allow computers to communicate over long-distance networks. Without the OS or the protocols built into it, it wouldn’t be possible to access a web browser.

The majority of software is written in HIGH-LEVEL PROGRAMMING due to the language being closer to NATURAL human language as opposed to MACHINE LANGUAGE The high-level language is then translated into LOW-LEVEL machine code using a COMPILER or INTERPRETER for the computer to understand. Software can also be written in a low-level ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE, but it is less common.

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Software vs. hardware

Computer software and hardware require each other – neither can be used on its own. A book provides a useful analogy. The pages and ink of a book are the hardware. The words, sentences, paragraphs, and overall meaning are the software. A computer without software is like a book full of blank pages. A computer needs software to make it useful just as words are needed to make a book meaningful.

While both are necessary, there are big differences between the two:

  • Hardware is a physical device, such as a motherboard, whereas software is a collection of code needed to be installed into the system.

  • Hardware cannot perform a task without software. Similarly, software cannot perform a task without hardware.

  • Hardware wears out with time, software does not.

  • Hardware only understands machine-level language. The software takes input in human-readable languages and transforms it to machine-level language.

  • Software can be easily created, changed, or deleted, whereas switching out hardware takes greater skill and is typically more expensive to do.

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