System software: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Type of software}}
{{short description| Platform-providing software}}
{{about|system software in general|Apple Inc's old operating system, formerly named "System Software"|Classic Mac OS}}
{{about |system software in general |Apple Inc's old operating system, formerly named "System Software" |Classic Mac OS}}
{{Refimprove|date=January 2022}}
{{Refimprove|date=January 2022}}
'''System software''' is [[software]] designed to provide a platform for other software. An example of system software is an [[operating system]] (OS) (like macOS, Linux, Android, and Microsoft Windows).<ref>
'''System software''' is [[software]] that provides a platform for other software.<ref>{{cite web |title=System software |url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/system-software |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica}}</ref> Examples include the [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] and [[device driver]]s of an [[operating system]] (OS).<ref>
{{cite web |title=Panel: Systems Programming in 2014 and Beyond |url=https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Lang-NEXT/Lang-NEXT-2014/Panel-Systems-Programming-Languages-in-2014-and-Beyond |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607224814/https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Lang-NEXT/Lang-NEXT-2014/Panel-Systems-Programming-Languages-in-2014-and-Beyond |archive-date=2014-06-07 |access-date=4 December 2015 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref>
{{cite web |title=Panel: Systems Programming in 2014 and Beyond |url=https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Lang-NEXT/Lang-NEXT-2014/Panel-Systems-Programming-Languages-in-2014-and-Beyond |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607224814/https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Lang-NEXT/Lang-NEXT-2014/Panel-Systems-Programming-Languages-in-2014-and-Beyond |archive-date=2014-06-07 |access-date=4 December 2015 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> A [[computer program |program]] that runs in the context of the platform is classified as [[Application software |application]] or [[Utility software |utility]] software based on the functionality it provides and the [[User role |role]] of intended [[User (computing)|users]]. Application software provides for the normal use of a computer, without regard to how the computer works or what it needs to function. It is used to accomplish [[end user]] tasks such as writing documents, playing video games, listening to music, drawing pictures, browsing the web and developing software.<ref>{{cite book|first1=W. W.|last1=Millner|first2=Ann|last2= Montgomery-Smith|date=2022|title=Information and Communication Technology for Intermediate GNVQ.|page= 126}}</ref> Utility software supports managing system hardware and software ([[system administrator]] tasks).


Application software is software that allows users to do user-oriented tasks such as creating text documents, playing or developing games, creating presentations, listening to music, drawing pictures, or browsing the web. Examples of such software are computational science software, game engines, search engines, industrial automation, and software as a service applications.<ref>{{cite book|first1=W. W.|last1=Millner|first2=Ann|last2= Montgomery-Smith|date=2022|title=Information and Communication Technology for Intermediate GNVQ.|page= 126}}</ref>
System software typically includes operating systems, device drivers, utility programs, and language translators such as compilers and assemblers.


In the late 1940s, application software was custom-written by computer users to fit their specific hardware and requirements. System software was usually supplied by the manufacturer of the computer hardware and was intended to be used by most or all users of that system.
Many operating systems are installed with application and utility software. Regardless, application software is generally not classified as system software. Core utility software is considered by some to be system software if it cannot be uninstalled without affecting the functioning of other software.<ref name=webopedia> {{cite web|url=http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/systems_software.html
 
| title=What is systems software? | orig-date=September 1, 1996 |date=May 24, 2021 | publisher=Webopedia.com |access-date=2022-06-24}}</ref>
Many operating systems come pre-packaged with basic application software. Such software is not considered system software when it can be uninstalled without affecting the functioning of other software. Examples of such software are games and simple editing tools supplied with Microsoft Windows, or software development toolchains supplied with many Linux distributions.
 
Some of the grayer areas between system and application software are [[web browser]]s integrated deeply into the operating system such as [[Internet Explorer]] in some versions of [[Microsoft Windows]], or ChromeOS where the browser functions as the only user interface and the only way to run programs (and other web browser their place){{cfn|date=December 2024}}.
 
==Operating systems or system control program==
The [[operating system]] (prominent examples being [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]], [[Linux]], and [[z/OS]]), allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring [[data (computing)|data]] between [[random access memory|memory]] and [[disk storage|disks]] or rendering output onto a [[display device]]. It provides a platform ([[Hardware abstraction|hardware abstraction layer]]) to run high-level system software and [[application software]].{{cn|date=May 2025}}
 
A [[kernel (operating system)|kernel]] is the core part of the operating system that defines an [[API|application programming interface]] for applications programs (including some system software) and an interface to device drivers.
 
[[Device driver]]s and [[firmware]], including computer [[BIOS]] or [[UEFI]], provide basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer.
 
A user interface interacts with a computer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Microcomputer Information Technology |url=http://home.olemiss.edu/~misbook/sfsysfm.htm|access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref> It can either be a [[command-line interface]] (CLI) or, since the 1980s, a [[graphical user interface]] (GUI). This is the part of the operating system the user directly interacts with; it is considered an application and not system software.
 
== Utility software or system support programs ==
 
Some organizations use the term systems programmer to describe a job function that is more accurately termed [[systems administrator]]. Software tools these employees use are then called system software. This [[utility software]] helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer, such as virus protection. The term system software can also include software development tools (like a [[compiler]], [[linker (computing)|linker]], or [[debugger]]).<ref name=webopedia>
  {{cite web|url=http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/systems_software.html
  | title=What is systems software? | orig-date=September 1, 1996 |date=May 24, 2021 | publisher=Webopedia.com |access-date=2022-06-24}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[IBM mainframe utility programs]]
* [[Nintendo DSi system software]]
* [[Nintendo 3DS system software]]
* [[Nintendo Switch system software]]
* [[PlayStation 3 system software]]
* [[PlayStation 4 system software]]
* [[PlayStation Portable system software]]
* [[PlayStation Vita system software]]
* [[System programming]]
* [[System programming]]
* [[System programming language]]
* [[System programming language]]
* [[IBM mainframe utility programs]]
* [[Wii system software]]
 
* [[Wii U system software]]
System software of [[video game console]]s
* [[Xbox 360 system software]]
 
* [[Xbox One system software]]
*From Microsoft:
: [[Xbox 360 system software]]
: [[Xbox One system software]]
 
*From Nintendo:
: [[Wii system software]]
: [[Wii U system software]]
: [[Nintendo DSi system software]]
: [[Nintendo 3DS system software]]
:[[Nintendo Switch system software]]
 
*From Sony:
: [[PlayStation 3 system software]]
: [[PlayStation 4 system software]]
: [[PlayStation Portable system software]]
: [[PlayStation Vita system software]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{wikiversity|Introduction to Computers/System software}}
* {{cite journal|last=Sammet|first=Jean|title=Brief Survey of Languages Used for Systems Implementation|journal=ACM SIGPLAN Notices|date=October 1971|volume=6|issue=9|pages=1–19|doi=10.1145/942596.807055|doi-access=free}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:System software| ]]
[[Category:System software| ]]

Latest revision as of 03:32, 19 December 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Refimprove System software is software that provides a platform for other software.[1] Examples include the kernel and device drivers of an operating system (OS).[2] A program that runs in the context of the platform is classified as application or utility software based on the functionality it provides and the role of intended users. Application software provides for the normal use of a computer, without regard to how the computer works or what it needs to function. It is used to accomplish end user tasks such as writing documents, playing video games, listening to music, drawing pictures, browsing the web and developing software.[3] Utility software supports managing system hardware and software (system administrator tasks).

System software typically includes operating systems, device drivers, utility programs, and language translators such as compilers and assemblers.

Many operating systems are installed with application and utility software. Regardless, application software is generally not classified as system software. Core utility software is considered by some to be system software if it cannot be uninstalled without affecting the functioning of other software.[4]

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

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