Software is of two types namely system software and application software. They both differ in terms of their purpose and design. System software is meant to administer the system resources. It also serves as a kind of platform for running the application software. On the other hand, application software is meant to enable the user to carry out some specific set of tasks or functions.
| Differences between System Software and Application Software |
| System software is meant to manage the system resources. It serves as the platform to run application software. | Application software helps perform a specific set of functions for which they have been designed. |
| System software is developed in a low-level language (assembly language for example) | Application software is developed in a high-level language such as Java, C++, .net and VB. |
| System software automatically starts running once the system is turned on and stops when the system is shut down. | Application software runs as and when the user requests it. |
| A system cannot even start without system software | Application software is user specific and it is not needed to run the system on the whole. |
| System software is endowed with a general purpose. | Application software carries a specific purpose. |
| A typical example for a system software is Windows Operating System | Some characteristic examples for application software is MS Office, Photoshop and CorelDraw |
System software provides an interface between the system hardware and the user. It lets the system understand the command that the user inputs. We can also say that the system software serves as an interface between the hardware in a system and application software. It is also called as general purpose software. The end user usually does not directly interact with the system software. The user only gets to interact with the GUI that has been created by the system software.
What is Application Software?We can define an application software as software written on a high-level language such as Java, C++, .net and VB for instance. This software is meant to meet some specific needs of the user. Some of the kinds of application software are designing software, a computing software, and an editing software. There is a specific purpose behind every application software.
Application software runs on the platform created by the system software. We can say that application software provides a kind of intermediary between the end user and the software installed on a computer. Application software is not absolutely essential for running a system, but it makes the system more useful. The MS Office you find on Windows-based systems is a typical example of application software.
Examples and conclusionSystem software and application software together make a system useful to the end user. A system cannot run without system software. In other words, it is compulsory for making the system run. Application software is essential to perform specific tasks. They help achieve versatile kinds of functions on a system thus helping to customize a system for the specific requirements and situations of the user.
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