

Therefore, most of the programming software falls under the category of system software.

Most computers require at least a display, hard drive, keyboard, memory, motherboard, processor, power supply, and video card to function properly.Programming software acts like system software, and that’s why are not consider them as a separate type of software here. For example, a word processor is not required, but it allows you to create documents and letters. Installing programs onto the computer, in addition to an operating system, gives the computer additional capabilities. A computer needs an operating system that allows both the user and software to interact with the computer hardware. However, if an operating system or interpreter is not found, it either generates an error or doesn't output any information. In most situations, yes, a computer can run without software being installed. Each of these are examples of hardware components. A sound card provides sound to speakers, and a video card provides an image to a monitor.

A CPU processes information and that information can be stored in RAM or on a hard drive. Word processing software uses the computer processor, memory, and hard drive to create and save documents. For example, a video game, which is software, uses the computer processor ( CPU), memory ( RAM), hard drive, and video card to run. Further information and examplesĪll software utilizes at least one hardware device to operate.

You can touch and feel the video card, and the computer uses it to play a computer game, but you cannot touch or feel the programming code that makes up the computer game. A video card is hardware, and a computer game is software. The Internet browser allowing you to view this page, and the operating system that the browser is running on are considered software. The disc is not the actual software.įor example, the computer monitor you are using to read this text, and the mouse you are using to navigate this web page are computer hardware. While software may come on a CD or DVD, the disc is the storage medium for the programming code that makes up the software.
