Computer software

UNIT IV

Lesson 1

Computer software, or just software, is any set of machine-readable instructions (most often in the form of a computer program) that directs a computer's processor to perform specific operations. The term is used to contrast with computer hardware, the physical objects (processor and related devices) that carry out the instructions. Hardware and software require each other; neither has any value without the other.

Software is a general term. It can refer to all computer instructions in general or to any specific set of computer instructions. It is inclusive of both machine instructions (the binary code that the processor understands) and source code (more human-understandable instructions that must be rendered into machine code by compilers or interpreters before being executed).

On most computer platforms, software can be grouped into a few broad categories:

· System software is the basic software needed for a computer to operate (most notably the operating system).

· Application software is all the software that uses the computer system to perform useful work beyond the operation of the computer itself.

· Embedded software resides as firmware within embedded systems, devices dedicated to a single use. In that context there is no clear distinction between the system and application software.

Software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer. In other words, software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system. Program software performs the function of the program it implements, either by directly providing instructions to the digital electronics or by serving as input to another piece of software.

1. Find the English equivalents:

Спрямовувати процесор, виконувати операції, здійснювати операції, вимагати, мати значення (цінність), стосуватися інструкцій, вихідний код, широка категорія, особливо, крім (поза межами) операції, мікропрограма, призначений (спеціалізований), чітка різниця, виконувати (здійснювати) програму.

2. Translate the following terms and terminological expressions:

Machine-readable instruction, related devices, specific set of computer instructions, binary code, source code, to be rendered into machine code by compilers, system software, application software, embedded software, firmware; a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation; to provide instructions, to serve as input.

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