Software - System & Applications Questions with Solutions

Software is the set of programs that tells a computer what to do. It is broadly divided into system software and application software. System software manages the hardware and provides a platform for other programs. It includes operating systems, device drivers, utility programs such as antivirus and disk cleanup tools, and language translators such as compilers, interpreters and assemblers. Application software helps users carry out specific tasks, such as word processors, spreadsheets, web browsers, media players and accounting packages. Exam questions test classifying a given program as system or application software, the differences between a compiler and an interpreter, and terms such as open-source software, freeware, shareware and proprietary software. Remember that a compiler translates the whole program at once, while an interpreter translates and runs it line by line. Practise the software questions below. Each answer includes an explanation.