Introduction to
Computer Science
Lecture 4
/Prepared by
Mosa Elkhedr
Computer Software
Computer software refers to the collection of programs, data, and
instructions that tell a computer how to perform specific tasks.
We interact with the program through its user interface called graphical
user interface.
Graphical user interface (GUI): you interact with a software using text,
graphic and visual image such as icon.
Icon: is a miniature image that represents a program or some other
object.
The two categories of software are
system software
application software.
System Software
System software consists of the programs that control or maintain
the operation of the computer and its devices.
It provides the foundational control and management of computer
hardware and resources.
It serves as a bridge between the hardware and application
software.
Two type of system software are the
Operating system
Utility programs
Operating Systems (OS)
An Operating System can be defined as an interface between user
and hardware.
The core software that manages hardware resources and provides
services for application software.
Examples include Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.
When user start computer, Portion of operating system load into
memory from the computer's hard disk and it remain in memory
until the computer shut down.
Device Drivers
Specialized software that allows the
operating system to communicate with
hardware devices, such as printers,
graphics cards, and storage devices.
Utilities software
Tools that perform maintenance tasks, such as disk management,
antivirus programs, and backup software.
It also related to managing the computer.
Application Software
Application software consists of programs designed to make users
more productive and assist them with personal tasks.
Application software is designed to help users perform specific
tasks or solve particular problems.
Application Software categories
It can be further divided into several categories:
Productivity Software: Tools for creating and managing documents,
spreadsheets, and presentations.
Examples Microsoft Office.
Database Software: Applications for creating, managing, storing and retrieving
data into computer.
Examples: Oracle Database, and Microsoft Access.
Multimedia Software: Programs for creating and editing audio, video, and
images.
Web Browsers: Software used to access and navigate the internet.
Examples Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
Output devices
