Software is instructions that tell your computer what to do

Software is a set of instructions written in code that tells your computer, phone, or tablet how to work. It is not the physical device itself — that is the hardware. Software is what makes the hardware useful. Without software, a computer is just plastic, metal, and circuits with no purpose.

Think of it like a recipe and a kitchen. The kitchen (your device) is hardware — the oven, counters, and tools. The recipe (software) tells you what to do with those tools. The same kitchen can make thousands of different meals depending on which recipe you follow. The same computer can do thousands of different tasks depending on which software you run.

Software lives on your hard drive or solid-state drive — the storage inside your device. When you turn on your computer or phone, the operating system (another type of software) loads into memory and starts running. From there, you can open other software to do specific tasks.

Key Takeaways

  • Software is code that tells your device what to do; hardware is the physical device itself.
  • An process is a specific piece of software designed to do one job, like edit photos or send email.
  • The operating system is the main software that runs your device and lets other applications work on it.
  • You can install new software on most devices, but some devices (like phones) limit what you can install.

Applications are software built to do one specific job

An process (or "app") is a piece of software designed to do one particular thing. Microsoft Word is an process for writing documents. Spotify is an process for playing music. Google Chrome is an process for browsing the web. Each one was built to handle a specific task well.

Applications run on top of your operating system. The operating system handles the basic work — managing your files, controlling your hardware, letting programs talk to each other. Applications use the operating system to do their job. When you open Word, it asks the operating system for permission to use your keyboard, screen, and storage. The operating system says yes and Word starts working.

You can install many different applications on the same device. A single computer might have Word, Spotify, Chrome, Photoshop, and dozens of other applications all sitting on the hard drive. You choose which one to open and use at any moment.

The operating system is the main software that runs everything

The operating system (or OS) is the software that controls your entire device. Windows, macOS, and Linux are operating systems for computers. iOS and Android are operating systems for phones and tablets. The operating system is the first software that runs when you turn on your device, and it stays running the whole time you use it.

Your operating system does the background work that applications need. It manages your files and folders. It controls how your keyboard, mouse, screen, and printer work. It decides how much memory each process can use. It handles security and decides which applications are allowed to do what. Without an operating system, applications would have no way to talk to your hardware.

You cannot easily change or remove your operating system the way you can uninstall an process. It is built into your device when you buy it. You can update it to a newer version, but you are stuck with the same operating system family (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or Linux) for that device.

How software gets onto your device

Software comes from different places depending on what device you own. On a Windows computer, you can read software from the internet and install it yourself. You might read it from the software maker's website or from a store like the Microsoft Store. On a Mac, you can do the same, or you can use the App Store.

On phones and tablets, you are more limited. iPhones only let you install applications from the Apple App Store. Most Android phones let you install from the Google Play Store, though some manufacturers restrict this. This limitation exists partly for security — the store checks applications before they are available — and partly because the device maker wants to control what runs on their device.

Once software is installed, it sits on your storage drive. When you open it, the operating system loads it into your device's memory (RAM) so it can run. When you close it, it stops running but stays on your storage drive until you uninstall it.

The difference between software and hardware matters when something breaks

Understanding the difference between software and hardware helps you figure out what is wrong when something stops working. If your computer will not turn on, that is likely a hardware problem — the power supply, motherboard, or battery is broken. If your computer turns on but a specific process crashes, that is a software problem.

Software problems are usually easier and cheaper to fix. You can restart the process, update it, uninstall and reinstall it, or restart your whole device. Hardware problems usually require a repair shop or replacement parts. If you know whether your problem is software or hardware, you can decide whether to try fixing it yourself or take it to a technician.

Many problems that feel like hardware issues are actually software. A slow computer is usually caused by too much software running at once or a hard drive that is too full — both software problems. A screen that flickers might be a driver (a type of software) that needs updating. A device that overheats might have software running in the background using the processor too hard.

Common types of software beyond applications

Applications are the software you interact with directly, but other types of software run behind the scenes. Drivers are software that let your operating system talk to specific hardware — your printer driver, graphics driver, or network driver. Firmware is software built into hardware devices themselves, like the software inside your router or your printer. Utilities are small programs that do maintenance tasks, like cleaning up temporary files or scanning for viruses.

You usually do not think about drivers, firmware, or utilities because they work in the background. But they are all software, and they all follow the same basic idea: they are instructions that tell your device what to do. The only difference is where they run and what they control.

Why this distinction matters for your device choices

When you are choosing a computer or phone, understanding software versus hardware helps you make better decisions. A faster processor (hardware) only helps if you run software that actually uses it. A phone with more storage (hardware) only matters if you plan to install many applications (software). A computer with more RAM (hardware) helps if you run many applications at once (software).

It also matters for upgrades. You can usually upgrade software — install a new version of Windows, update your applications, add new programs. You cannot easily upgrade most hardware once you buy a device. A computer with a slow processor will always have that slow processor. This is why choosing the right hardware when you buy matters more than choosing the right software — software can change, but hardware is locked in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the internet software or hardware?

The internet is both. The physical cables, routers, and servers are hardware. The protocols and systems that move data across those cables are software. Your browser (like Chrome or Safari) is software that lets you use the internet. Your network card is hardware that connects you to it.

Can I run the same process on a Windows computer and a Mac?

Not usually. Most applications are written for one operating system or the other. Microsoft Word exists for both Windows and Mac, but it is technically two different applications. Some applications exist only for Windows or only for Mac. Web applications (like Gmail or Google Docs) work on any device with a browser, so they are the exception.

What happens if I delete software by mistake?

If you uninstall an process, it is removed from your storage drive and you can no longer use it. But you can reinstall it later by downloading it again or finding it in your app store. Deleting software does not break your device. The operating system and other applications keep working normally.

Do I need to buy software, or can I get it free?

Both exist. Some software costs money — Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and many others charge a fee. Many applications are free — Chrome, Spotify (with ads), Gmail, and thousands of others. Some software is free but offers a paid version with more features. You can mix free and paid software on the same device.

Why do applications need updates?

Updates fix bugs (errors in the code), add new features, and patch security problems. A security update closes a hole that hackers could use to break into your device. A bug fix makes the process work better. A feature update adds new tools. You should install updates when they are available, especially security updates.