Software application or app is a program developed for direct interaction with the user and that performs certain specific tasks.
The application cannot run on itself: to execute it, it needs the preinstalled operating system. Apps include such things as word processors, database programs, spreadsheets, and Web browsers.
The main differences between an Application Software, System Software, and a Program:
- Application software is designed to help users perform tasks.
- System software is a set of programs that manage components of a computer, such as a processor, RAM, I/O devices, network equipment, acting as an "interlayer interface,"with hardware on the one hand, and user applications on the other.
- Program - A set of rules to tell the computer what to do.
All apps are programs, but a program may not be an app. For example, there are many programs, which are not developed for the end user, but are running on the background of an operating system to perform some technical tasks, like security or the backup of data.
Applications are written in programming languages, specially for each operating system.
Types
- Software applications for enterprises and organizations. These can be used for financial management or supply chains. This also includes departmental software for small businesses, as well as software for individual units within a large enterprise. Such as transport cost management, IT support services.
- Enterprise infrastructure software. Provides general opportunities for enterprise software support. These are database management systems, e-mail servers, network management and security.
- Knowledge worker software. Serves the needs of individual users in information creation and management. For example, text editors, spreadsheets, client programs for e-mail and blogs, personal information systems and media editors.
- Software for accessing content. It is used to access certain programs or resources without editing them (but it can also include the editing function). Designed for groups or individual users of digital content. For example, media players, web browsers, auxiliary browsers, etc.
- Educational content software. This is close to media and entertainment software. But unlike it, there are clear requirements for testing user knowledge and tracking progress in learning about a particular material. Many educational programs include functions of joint use and multilateral cooperation.
- Simulation software. Used to simulate physical or abstract systems for research, training or entertainment purposes.
- Software tools in the media field. Provide the needs of users who produce printed or electronic media resources for other consumers, on a commercial or educational basis. These are programs for printing, layout, multimedia processing, HTML editors, digital animation editors, digital audio, and so on.
- Applications for design and development. Used in the development of hardware and software. Cover computer-aided design (CAD), computer aided engineering (CAE), editing and compilation of programming languages, Integrated Development Environments (IDE) programs.
To summarise, by creating the application, programmers provide the user with a convenient tool to realize some tasks, which can be difficult or inconvenient to implement with the standard functionality of existing software.