Types Of Software

What types of software are there for a computer? There are many types of software for a computer, everything from computer programs to those that make computer programs. Below are the major types of software for a computer.

System software - system software is the actual program(s) used by the computer to help it run. These programs include the operating system, drivers for components and hardware, and utility programs. Microsoft Windows and Mac OS are types of system software. They are OSs or operating systems.

Application software - application software is used by people to accomplish something. Programs like Microsoft Office or Adobe Dreamweaver are programs that allow users to email, write articles, or design websites. Under this banner are many types of software, including:

• Retail/Business software - these programs that help a retailer or business sell and inventory goods for their customers. Restaurant Pro is such a program.
• Money/Finance software - these programs help maintain an individual's or a business's expenses, as well as invoicing. Programs like Quickbooks, Money, and Quicken are these types of software.

Utility Software - As mentioned above, utilities are also part of system software, as they help maintain a computer. Things like anti-virus, anti-spyware, and disk defrag are utilities.

Programming Software - programming software allows a "programmer" to create a software application.

These are the major types of software. Most of these either come with your computer (system software) or can be bought through a retail channel. There is also shareware and freeware software. These types of software you would find online either through third party sites or from the manufacturer themselves.

• Shareware - Shareware programs are free to try for an agreed amount of time before a user needs to purchase the program.
• Freeware - Freeware programs are completely free for a user to use. They usually have a paid version that offers more features than the free version, however the free version may sometimes be all someone needs. Many anti-virus programs (Avast, AVG), anti-spyware programs (Ad-Aware), and video players (WMP, VLC) are free to download and free to use.

There are many types of software and many are geared for all of the public or for certain individual usage. Some types of software help the computer, while other types of software help the user get tasks completed. Whatever type of software you use, there are many different versions of it, some just waiting to be tried.