ASSIGNMENT

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

SUBMITTED TO: NADEEM ZAFAR

SUBMITTED BY: AMIR ALI
ROLL NO: 4393
DEPARTMENT: POLITICAL SCIENCE

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE UNIVERSITY LAHORE

TABLE OF CONTENT:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINITION OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE
3. DETAIL OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE
4. TYPES
i) SYSTEM SOFTWARE
ii)APPLICATION SOFTWARE
5. FIRM WARE
6. MIDDLE WARE
7. CONCLUSION
8. REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION: Computer software is anything that can be stored
electronically.  The term is used to contrast with computer hardware (the physical
objects); unlike hardware, software cannot be touched.  Hardware and software
require each other and neither has any value without the other.
Software refers to the computer programs and data held in the storage of the
computer. In other words, software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms
and its documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system.
On most computer platforms, software can be grouped into two broad categories:

DEFINITION: Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to

operate computers and execute specific tasks. It is the opposite of hardware, which
describes the physical aspects of a computer. Software is a generic term used to
refer to applications, scripts and programs that run on a device.1

Detail of Computer Science

Computer software examples include operating systems, which allow for easy use
of a computer's processing power, as well as applications like Notepad and Firefox.
Software can be physically stored on the hard drive or at another location such as a
USB drive, or it can be cloud-based and hosted over the internet.Computer
software refers to programming code that is executed on the computer hardware
that facilitates the completion of tasks by a computer. What is a computer
program? A computer program is a specific sequence of instructions written in
programming code that is carried out by a computer processor to complete a
specific task. Thus, a computer program is a piece of software designed for a
certain use or task. Since personal computers have become ubiquitous in many
countries, computer software can be found across the globe. In fact, because of the
widespread use of computers in both personal and business contexts, as well as the
integral role that the internet plays in the global economy, it is difficult to imagine
how today's world would function without computer software. A list of some of the
most well-known computer software examples includes:
Example of it:
Computer software examples include operating systems, which allow for easy use
of a computer's processing power, as well as applications like Notepad and Firefox.
Software can be physically stored on the hard drive or at another location such as a
USB drive, or it can be cloud-based and hosted over the internet.2

1
Book: Computer Fundamental , Sixth Edition , Writer: Pradeep K. Sinha , Published: march 2011.
2
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/computer_fundamentals/computer 2012
  Operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS
 Productivity Software for example, Microsoft Office Suite including Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint
 Internet Browsers including Firefox, Chrome, and Safari
These and other specific examples of computer software are used many times per
day by individuals and companies around the world.
Types of Computer Software
There are many examples of specific computer software that play a role in personal
and professional computer systems. Computer software can generally be divided
into two categories: system software and application software
. System software includes technical programs that communicate with the
computer's hardware, including its processor, and provides a framework for
application software
 Operating Systems
 Utility Software
 Device Drivers

 Application software includes the programs that do not relate to the basic

functioning of the computer, but allow you to do tasks, such as internet browsers or
word processors.
 Web browsers
 Word processors
 Multimedia software
 Spreadsheet software
 Email clients
 Graphics software
Types of system software:
It has two subtypes which are:
1. Operating System: It is the main program of a computer system. When the
computer system ON it is the first software that loads into the computer’s
memory. Basically, it manages all the resources such as memory, CPU, printer,
hard disk, etc., and provides an interface to the user, which helps the user to
interact with the computer system. It also provides various services to other
computer software. Examples of operating systems are Linux, Apple macOS,
Microsoft Windows, etc.
2. Language Processor: As we know that system software converts the human-
readable language into a machine language and vice versa. So, the conversion is
done by the language processor. It converts programs written in high-
level programming languages like Java, C, C++, Python, etc(known as source
code), into sets of instructions that are easily readable by machines(known as
object code or machine code).
3. Device Driver: A device driver is a program or software that controls a device
and helps that device to perform its functions. Every device like a printer,
 mouse, modem, etc. needs a driver to connect with the computer system
eternally. So, when you connect a new device with your computer system, first
you need to install the driver of that device so that your operating system knows
how to control or manage that device.
4. Utility Software: This type of application software is used to support the
computer infrastructure. It is designed to analyze, configure, optimize and
maintains the system, and take care of its requirements as well. For example,
antivirus, disk fragmenter, memory tester, disk repair, disk cleaners, registry
cleaners, disk space analyzer, etc3.

Application Software 
Software that performs special functions or provides functions that are much more
than the basic operation of the computer is known as application software. Or in
other words, application software is designed to perform a specific task for end-
users. It is a product or a program that is designed only to fulfill end-users’
requirements. It includes word processors, spreadsheets, database management,
inventory, payroll programs, etc.
Features of application software:
Let us discuss some of the features of Application Software:
 important feature of application software is it performs more specialized
tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, email, etc.
1: Mostly, the size of the software is big, so it requires more storage space.
2: software is more interactive for the users, so it is easy to use and design.
3:The application software is easy to design and understand.
4: Application software is written in a high-level language in general.
Types of application software:
There are different types of application software and those are:
1. General Purpose Software:  This type of application software is used for a
variety of tasks and it is not limited to performing a specific task only. For
example, MS-Word, MS-Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
2. Customized Software:  This type of application software is used or designed
to perform specific tasks or functions or designed for specific organizations. For
example, railway reservation system, airline reservation system, invoice
management system, etc.

3
https://ecomputernotes.com/fundamental/disk-operating-system/system-software 2010.
3. Education Software : Education Software allows a computer to be used as a
teching and learning tool. A few examples of such software include those used
for teaching mathematics , grammar , language and any other subject.4
FIRMWARE:
In computing, firmware is a specific class of computer software that provides the
low-level control for a device's specific hardware. Firmware, such as the BIOS of a
personal computer, may contain basic functions of a device, and may provide
hardware abstraction services to higher-level software such as operating systems.
For less complex devices, firmware may act as the device's complete operating
system, performing all control, monitoring and data manipulation functions.
Typical examples of devices containing firmware are embedded systems (running
embedded software), home and personal-use appliances, computers, and computer
peripherals.

Firmware is commonly stored in an EEPROM, which makes use of an I/O protocol

such as SPI. Firmware is held in non-volatile memory devices such as ROM,
EPROM, EEPROM, and Flash memory. Updating firmware requires ROM
integrated circuits to be physically replaced, or EPROM flash memory to be
reprogrammed through a special procedure. Some firmware memory devices are
permanently installed and cannot be changed after manufacture. Common reasons
for updating firmware include fixing bugs or adding features. Firmware is software
that provides basic machine instructions that allow the hardware to function and
communicate with other software running on a device. Firmware provides low-
level control for a device's hardware.5

Example of Firmware :
computing, firmware is a computer program that is "embedded" in a hardware
device and is an essential part of the hardware. It is sometimes called embedded
software. An example is a microcontroller, a part of the microprocessor that tells
the microprocessor what actions to take.

Middleware: Middleware is software that enables one or more kinds of

communication or connectivity between two or more applications or application
4
Book: Computer Fundamental , Sixth Edition , Writer: Pradeep K. Sinha , Published: march 2011.

5
Book: Computer Firmware ,Writer: Lutz Richter , North-Holland Publishing Company 1981
components in a distributed network. By making it easier to connect applications
that weren't designed to connect with one another - and providing functionality to
connect them in intelligent ways - middleware streamlines application
development and speeds time to market. Middleware got its name because the first
middleware typically acted as a mediator between an application front-end, or
client, and a back-end resource - e.g., a database, mainframe application or
specialized hardware device - from which the client might request data.

But today's middleware operates well beyond this scope. Portal middleware, for
example, encompasses the application front-end as well as tools for back-end
connectivity; database middleware typically includes its own data store. And as
you'll read below, an emerging class of middleware leverages container technology
to help developers connect to resources distributed across multiple clouds.
Middleware is software that different applications use to communicate with each
other. It provides functionality to connect applications intelligently and efficiently
so that you can innovate faster.6

Example of Middleware
Middleware is software that lies between an operating system and the applications
running on it. Essentially functioning as hidden translation layer, middleware
enables communication and data management for distributed applications.

Conclusion: So at last it is concluded that that whole detail about computer

software and its types and how computer software works , its examples and how
system software and application software works and in the last firmware and
middleware and how its work all is mentioned above.

Thank You

6
https://azure.microsoft.com/ what is middleware