Computer software is just a computer program, right?

Wrong; computer software refers to the program and its documentation in the computer system. The program is the description of the processing object and processing rules of the computing task; the documentation is the explanatory information needed to facilitate the understanding of the program. The program must be loaded into the machine before it can work. Documents are generally for people to see, not necessarily loaded into the machine.

Computer software (Software, also called software) refers to the programs and program-related documents required for computer operation. Programs are the processing objects and processing rules for computing tasks. Description; documentation is the explanatory material needed to understand the program. The program must be loaded into the machine before it can work. Documents are generally for people to see, not necessarily loaded into the machine.

The software makes users face no longer a simple machine, but an abstract logical machine. People can use the computer conveniently and effectively without having to understand the internal structure of the computer itself. It can also be said that software is the interface between users and machines.

Software is the interface between the user and the hardware. Users mainly communicate with computers through software. Software is an important basis for computer system design. In order to facilitate users and make the computer system have high overall utility, when designing the computer system, the combination of software and hardware, as well as user requirements and software requirements must be considered comprehensively.

The meaning of software

(1) A collection of instructions or computer programs that can provide the required functions and performance when run.

(2) The program can handle the data structure of the information satisfactorily.

(3) Documentation required to describe the functional requirements of the program and how the program is operated and used.

Characteristics of software

(1) The purpose of computer software is different from that of general works. Computer software is mostly used for a specific purpose, such as controlling a certain production process so that the computer can complete certain tasks; while literary works are for reading and appreciation to meet people's spiritual and cultural life needs.

(2) The focus of legal protection required is different. Copyright law generally only protects the form of a work, not its content. Computer software, on the other hand, claims protection of its content.

(3) The computer software language is different from the language of the work. Computer software language is a symbolic and formal language with very limited expressive power; written works are human natural languages ​​with very rich expressive power.

(4) Computer software can be protected by various laws, while written works can only be protected by copyright law.

Computer software classification

Computer software is generally divided into two categories: system software and application software:

System software is various types of operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, UNIX, etc., including operating system patches and hardware drivers, are all system software.

There are even more types of application software that can be subdivided, such as tool software, game software, management software, etc., all belong to the application software category.

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