Software is the intangible parts of the computer. It includes instructions and data that are processed by the CPU and stored on Secondary storage.
There are three types of software:
System Software: The software which runs the computer hardware. It provides a platform for utility and application software to run.
Utility Software: Software used to maintain the computer and allow it to continue to running in a smooth manner.
Application Software: The most common software, these allow users to complete tasks. E.g. web browsers, office software and games.
Operating Systems are the most complex pieces of software. They manage the computer hardware and provide a platform for utility and application software.
Operating Systems carry out many purposes:
We all use a range of Operating Systems every day. Your smartphone will use Android or iOS, your laptop or desktop computer will use Windows or MacOS, and even games consoles run specific operating systems to run their hardware.