What is
Software?
Software is
the programs and other operating information used by a computer.
Computer
software includes computer programs, libraries and their associated
documentation. The word software is also sometimes used in a more narrow sense,
meaningapplication software only. Software is
stored in computer memory and cannot be touched i.e. it
is intangible.[1]
At the
lowest level, executable code consists of machine language instructions
specific to an individual processor –
typically a central processing unit (CPU). A machine
languageconsists of groups of binary values signifying processor
instructions that change the state of the computer from its preceding state.
For example, an instruction may change the value stored in a particular storage
location inside the computer – an effect that is not directly observable to the
user. An instruction may also (indirectly) cause something to appear on a
display of the computer system – a state change which should be visible to the
user. The processor carries out the instructions in the order they are
provided, unless it is instructed to "jump" to a different instruction,
or interrupted.
Software
written in a machine language is known as "machine code". However, in
practice, software is usually written in high-level programming languages that
are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural
language) than machine language.[2] High-level
languages are translated, using compilation or interpretation or a combination of the
two, into machine language. Software may also be written in a low-level assembly
language, essentially, a vaguely mnemonic representation
of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language is
translated into machine code using an assembler.
Copy From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software
Copy From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software
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