Application software

Application software is a loosely defined subclass of computer software that employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform. This should be contrasted with system software which is involved in integrating a computer's various capabilities, but typically does not directly apply them in the performance of tasks that benefit the user. The term application refers to both the application software and its implementation.

Related Topics:
Computer software - System software

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A simple, if imperfect, analogy in the world of hardware would be the relationship of an electric light—an application—to an electric power generation plant—the system. The power plant merely generates electricity, itself not really of any use until harnessed to an application like the electric light which performs a service that the user desires.

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The exact delineation between the operating system and application software is not precise, however, and is occasionally subject to controversy. For example, one of the key questions in the United States v. Microsoft antitrust trial was whether Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser was part of its Windows operating system or a separable piece of application software. As another example, the GNU/Linux naming controversy is, in part, due to disagreement about the relationship between the Linux kernel and the Linux operating system.

Related Topics:
United States v. Microsoft - Antitrust - Internet Explorer - Web browser - Windows - GNU/Linux naming controversy - Linux kernel - Linux

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Typical examples of software applications are word processors, spreadsheets and media player

Related Topics:
Word processor - Spreadsheet - Media player

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Multiple applications bundled together as a package are sometimes referred to as an application suite. Microsoft Office, which bundles together a word processor, a spreadsheet, and several other discrete applications, is a typical example. The separate applications in a suite usually have a user interface that has some commonality making it easier for the user to learn and use each application. And often they may have some capability to interact with each other in ways beneficial to the user. For example a spreadsheet might be able to be embedded in a word processor document even though it had been created in the separate spreadsheet application.

Related Topics:
Microsoft Office - User interface

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An open source example of an office application suite is OpenOffice.org. OpenOffice.org is the open source version of Sun Microsystems StarOffice suite. OpenOffice.org includes word processor, spreadsheet and presentation applications that are compatible with the file formats for Microsoft Office.

Related Topics:
Open source - OpenOffice.org - Sun Microsystems

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User software tailors systems to meet the users specific needs. User software include spreadsheet templates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, graphics and animation scripts. Even email filters are a kind of user software. Users create this software themselves and often overlook how important it is.

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In some types of embedded systems, the application software and the operating system software may be indistinguishable to the user, as in the case of software used to control a VCR, DVD player or Microwave oven.

Related Topics:
Embedded system - VCR - DVD - Microwave oven

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