When it comes to computer software, there are generally two types: system software and application software. System software is the underlying software that manages and controls the computer hardware.
It is responsible for managing various system resources such as memory, CPU, and disk space. Application software, on the other hand, is designed for specific tasks such as word processing, photo editing, or gaming.
Now, let’s take a closer look at system software. System software can be further divided into several categories such as operating systems (OS), device drivers, firmware, virtual machines (VMs), and utility programs.
An operating system is a type of system software that manages computer hardware and provides common services for application programs. Examples of popular operating systems include Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Device drivers are another type of system software that allows the OS to communicate with various computer hardware devices such as printers, scanners, and graphics cards.
Firmware is a type of system software that resides on a hardware device and provides low-level control over the device’s functionality. Examples of firmware include BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) found in personal computers or firmware found in routers.
Virtual machines are another type of system software that allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single physical machine. This is useful for running legacy applications or testing new operating systems without interfering with the host machine’s primary OS.
Finally, utility programs are specialized tools designed to help manage and optimize computer resources such as disk space or memory. These include antivirus programs, disk defragmenters, registry cleaners among others.
Now we come to the question at hand – which of the following is not a type of system software? The answer is application software. Application software serves specific functions like word processing or photo-editing that aren’t related to managing or controlling hardware resources like an operating system does.
In conclusion, understanding different types of computer software can help you better understand how your computer works and how to optimize its performance. Knowing the difference between system software and application software is crucial. System software manages and controls computer hardware while application software serves specific functions unrelated to hardware management.