Published by: Sujan
Published date: 18 Jun 2021
Software is a general term used to describe a collection of computer programs, procedures, and documentation. A short introduction to computer software is given in the following points.
A computer system consists of hardware and software.
The computer hardware cannot perform any task on its own.
It needs to be instructed about the tasks to be performed.
Software is a set of programs that instructs the computer about the tasks to be performed.
Program is the collection of instructions.
Software tells the computer how the tasks are to be performed; hardware carries out these tasks.
Different sets of software can be loaded on the same hardware to perform different kinds of tasks.
For example, a user can use the same computer hardware for writing a document or for running a payroll program, or browse the internet or listen to music etc i.e.(multitasking).
Functionality: Refers to the degree of performance of the software against its intended purpose.
Usability: Refers to the range to which the software can be used with no difficulty.
Efficiency: Refers to the ability of the software to use system resources in the most effective and efficient manner.
Maintainability: Refers to the modifications that can be made in a software system without difficulty extending its functionality, improve its performance, or correct errors.
Portability: Refers to the ease with which software developers can transfer software from one platform to another, without (or with minimum) changes. In simple terms, portability refers to the ability of software to function properly on different hardware and software platforms without making any changes in it.
Robustness: refers to the degree to which the software can keep on functioning in spite of being provided with invalid data .
Integrity: refers to the degree to which unauthorized access to the software or data can be prevented.