Question

Explain with examples the roles of system software and application software?
​

Answer 1

System software, such as operating systems, manages hardware and enables user interactions, while application software, like Microsoft Word, performs specific user-oriented tasks. Economics can be viewed as a system, with microeconomics reflecting individual transactions and macroeconomics the overall market system.

Step-by-step explanation:

Roles of System Software and Application Software

System software serves as the foundation for application software and manages the hardware components of a computer. It includes the operating system (OS), device drivers, and utilities. The OS, such as Windows, Linux, or macOS, is crucial as it enables human software interactions and the decision-making processes of users by providing a user interface and handling system resources. For example, it manages memory and processor tasks to run multiple applications efficiently.

On the other hand, application software is designed for specific tasks or functions that directly benefit the end user, such as word processors, spreadsheets, or web browsers. For instance, Microsoft Word is an application that offers a suite of tools for document creation and editing, directly interacting with the system software to utilize the computer's capabilities.

In the context of economics, an example of a system could be a marketplace. Here, microeconomics would be analogous to individual transactions and consumer choices within the market, while macroeconomics could be compared to the overall market system, including regulatory policies and economic growth.

Answer 2

System software and application programs are the two main types of computer software. Unlike system software, application software -- often just called an application or app -- performs a particular function for the end user. Some examples of application software include the following:

web browsers

email clients

word processors

spreadsheets

Step-by-step explanation:

Application software and system software are coded differently. System software is written in system programming languages -- such as Executive Systems Problem Oriented Language (ESPOL) -- designed to provide easy access to the underlying computer hardware. Application programs are written in general-purpose languages, such as Pascal, that enable the program to use the same code on different platforms. Some languages, such as C, are used for both system and application software.

System software and application software are also triggered differently. System software is generally triggered when a computer or device is turned on, and it remains on until the device is powered down. Application software is triggered by an end user after the computer is turned on. Application software needs system software to function, whereas system software can run independently of application software.

In most cases, end users do not interact with system software because it runs in the background. By contrast, end users do interact with application software -- installing it, booting it up, using it to perform certain tasks, booting it down and uninstalling it.