Software
Software is the whole body of instructions that tells hardware what to do. Applications, games and operating systems are all software.
| In brief | The whole body of instructions that tells hardware what to do; applications and operating systems are both software. |
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| Technical definition | An organised body of instructions and data written to carry out a task and executed by the processor; it is layered into system software and application software. |
| Everyday example | Downloading and installing an application on your phone adds new software to the device; the hardware stays the same while the capabilities grow. |
| Why it matters | Software is what gives identical hardware different capabilities; much of your security and your experience depends on that software being current and trustworthy. |
| Common misconceptions |
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The invisible side
The phone in your hand is hardware; what gives it life, changes the screen when you touch it and sends your message is software. Software is not physical; it is sequences of instructions written by people and carried out step by step by the processor. The recipe comparison works well here: hardware is the kitchen and the ingredients, software is the recipe, and the same kitchen turns out entirely different meals from different recipes.
Kinds: from system to application
Software falls broadly into two layers. System software such as the operating system manages how the device fundamentally works. Application software is written for particular jobs: a messaging app, a photo editor, games, a browser. Applications work not with the hardware directly but through the services the operating system offers, which is why an application will not necessarily run on every operating system.
A culture of updates
Software carries on living after it is released: faults are found and fixed, security holes are closed, new features are added. Putting off update notices is a widespread habit, but delaying security updates means leaving known holes open. Downloading applications from official stores and avoiding installation files from unclear sources is the most basic protection against malicious software.
Related terms: Hardware, Operating System, RAM