| Application software is a subclass of | | | | system software may be indistinguishable |
| computer software that employs the | | | | to the user, as in the case of software |
| capabilities of a computer directly to a | | | | used to control a VCR, DVD player or |
| task that the user wishes to perform. | | | | Microwave Oven. |
| This should be contrasted with system | | | | There are many subtypes of Application |
| software which is involved in | | | | Software: |
| integrating a computer's various | | | | Enterprise software addresses the needs |
| capabilities, but typically does not | | | | of organization processes and data flow, |
| directly apply them in the performance | | | | often in a large distributed ecosystem. |
| of tasks that benefit the user. In this | | | | (Examples include Financial, Customer |
| context the term application refers to | | | | Relationship Management, and Supply |
| both the application software and its | | | | Chain Management). Note that |
| implementation. | | | | Departmental Software is a sub-type of |
| A simple, if imperfect, analogy in the | | | | Enterprise Software with a focus on |
| world of hardware would be the | | | | smaller organizations or groups within a |
| relationship of an electric light—an | | | | large organization. (Examples include |
| application—to an electric power | | | | Travel Expense Management, and IT |
| generation plant—the system. The power | | | | Helpdesk) |
| plant merely generates electricity, | | | | Enterprise infrastructure software |
| itself not really of any use until | | | | provides common capabilities needed to |
| harnessed to an application like the | | | | create Enterprise Software systems. |
| electric light which performs a service | | | | (Examples include Databases, Email |
| that the user desires. | | | | servers, and Network and Security |
| The exact delineation between the | | | | Management) |
| operating system and application | | | | Information worker software addresses |
| software is not precise, however, and is | | | | the needs of individuals to create and |
| occasionally subject to controversy. For | | | | manage information, often for individual |
| example, one of the key questions in the | | | | projects within a department, in |
| United States v. Microsoft antitrust | | | | contrast to enterprise management. |
| trial was whether Microsoft's Internet | | | | Examples include time management, |
| Explorer web browser was part of its | | | | resource management, documentation |
| Windows operating system or a separable | | | | tools, analytical, and collaborative. |
| piece of application software. As | | | | Word processors, spreadsheets, email and |
| another example, the GNU/Linux naming | | | | blog clients, personal information |
| controversy is, in part, due to | | | | system, and individual media editors may |
| disagreement about the relationship | | | | aid in multiple information worker |
| between the Linux kernel and the Linux | | | | tasks. |
| operating system. | | | | Media and entertainment software |
| Typical examples of software | | | | addresses the needs of individuals and |
| applications are word processors, | | | | groups to consume digital entertainment |
| spreadsheets, and media players. | | | | and published digital content. (Examples |
| Multiple applications bundled together | | | | include Media Players, Web Browsers, |
| as a package are sometimes referred to | | | | Help browsers, and Games) |
| as an application suite. Microsoft | | | | Educational software is related to Media |
| Office and OpenOffice.org, which bundle | | | | and Entertainment Software, but has |
| together a word processor, a | | | | distinct requirements for delivering |
| spreadsheet, and several other discrete | | | | evaluations (tests) and tracking |
| applications, are typical examples. The | | | | progress through material. It is also |
| separate applications in a suite usually | | | | related to collaboration software in |
| have a user interface that has some | | | | that many Educational Software systems |
| commonality making it easier for the | | | | include collaborative capabilities. |
| user to learn and use each application. | | | | Media development software addresses the |
| And often they may have some capability | | | | needs of individuals who generate print |
| to interact with each other in ways | | | | and electronic media for others to |
| beneficial to the user. For example, a | | | | consume, most often in a commercial or |
| spreadsheet might be able to be embedded | | | | educational setting. This includes |
| in a word processor document even though | | | | Graphic Art software, Desktop Publishing |
| it had been created in the separate | | | | software, Multimedia Development |
| spreadsheet application. | | | | software, HTML editors, Digital |
| User-written software tailors systems to | | | | Animation editors, Digital Audio and |
| meet the user's specific needs. | | | | Video composition, and many others. |
| User-written software include | | | | Product engineering software is used in |
| spreadsheet templates, word processor | | | | developing hardware and software |
| macros, scientific simulations, graphics | | | | products. This includes computer aided |
| and animation scripts. Even email | | | | design (CAD), computer aided engineering |
| filters are a kind of user software. | | | | (CAE), computer language editing and |
| Users create this software themselves | | | | compiling tools, Integrated Development |
| and often overlook how important it is. | | | | Environments, and Application Programmer |
| In some types of embedded systems, the | | | | Interfaces. |
| application software and the operating | | | | |