System software

System software is computer software designed to operate the computer hardware and to provide a platform for running application software.^[1]^[2]

The most basic types of system software are:

The computer BIOS and device firmware, provides basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer.
The operating system (prominent examples being Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux), which allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring data between memory and disks or rendering output onto a display device. It also provides a platform to run high-level system software and application software.
Utility software, which helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer.

In some publications, the term system software is also used to designate software development tools (like a compiler, linker or debugger).^[3]

In contrast to system software, software that allows users to do things like create text documents, play games, listen to music, or surf the web is called application software.^[4]

References

^ http://depts.alverno.edu/cil/mod1/software/system.html
^ http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci213024,00.html
^ http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/systems_software.html
^ W. W. Milner, Ann Montgomery-Smith (2000). Information and Communication Technology for Intermediate Gnvq. p.126

External links

This article related to a type of software is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] ttp://depts.alverno.edu/cil/mod1/software/system.html

[2] ttp://searchsoa.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci213024,00.html

[3] ttp://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/systems_software.html

[4] W. W. Milner, Ann Montgomery-Smith (2000). Information and Communication Technology for Intermediate Gnvq. p.126

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