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 software
LastModified: Friday, January 04, 2002 

Computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically is software. The storage devices and display devices are hardware.

The terms software and hardware are used as both nouns and adjectives. For example, you can say: "The problem lies in the software," meaning that there is a problem with the program or data, not with the computer itself. You can also say: "It's a software problem."

The distinction between software and hardware is sometimes confusing because they are so integrally linked. Clearly, when you purchase a program, you are buying software. But to buy the software, you need to buy the disk (hardware) on which the software is recorded.

Software is often divided into two categories:

  • systems software : Includes the operating system and all the utilities that enable the computer to function.
  • applications software : Includes programs that do real work for users. For example, word processors, spreadsheets, and database management systems fall under the category of applications software.
  •   Related Links

    Software Publishers Association home page 
    The Software Publishers Association is a leading association for the software industry. Their site offers links to news and events, a member directory, courses, publications, and research information.

    Business Software Alliance (BSA) home page
    The BSA is an organization promoting the continued growth of the software industry through its international public policy, enforcement, and education programs. Their site offers links to news, resources, policies, anti-virus information, and worldwide hotlines.

    CNET's download.com site
    A site for locating downloadable software by keyword or by subject category, from CNET.

    League for programming freedom
    Provides news, position statements and legal resouces covering software patent issues and user interface copyrights. Includes information on the LZW patent.

    Superkids - Educational software reviews
    SuperKids provides reviews of children's software, by parents, teachers, and children. Following a 'Consumer Reports' format, each month an acadmic subject and age range is selected for product comparisons.

    WebShopper
    Computer hardware and software buyer's guide with helpful product-related articles and recommendations.

    WinSite software archive
    Home page for WinSite, a comprehensive Windows software archive. This site offers a search or browse utility to locate software, which you can then download.

    Yahoo!'s software companies page
    Yahoo!'s directory of links to software companies.

    Yahoo!'s software page
    Yahoo!'s directory of software links.

    related categories:

    Software

    related terms:

    application

    bloatware

    COTS

    data

    dribbleware

    Extreme Programming

    firmware

    hardware

    JNI

    program

    refactoring

    robust

    software entropy

    systems software

    vaporware

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