What Is System Software?

Date First Published: 22nd February 2024

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Computer Software

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 4/10

CONTENTS

Examples Of System Software
Difference Between System Software and Application Software

Learn about what system software is in this article.

System software is the most important type of software installed on a computer that directly controls the hardware and provides an environment or platform for all the other types of software to work in. The operating system, BIOS, and device drivers are examples of system software.

System software runs in the background and maintains the basic functions of the computer so that users can run higher-level application software to perform certain tasks. It generates the user interface and allows the operating system to interact with the hardware, providing a platform for application software to be run on top of.

Examples Of System Software

Examples of system software are:

BIOS - A firmware program stored on a ROM chip on the motherboard that provides a user interface for accessing and setting up the computer at the most basic level.
Boot program - Used to load the operating system into the main memory of the computer or RAM.
Assembler - Takes basic computer instructions and converts them into patterns of bits that the computer processor can use to perform basic functions.
Device driver - A computer program without a user interface that enables the operating system and a hardware device to communicate with each other.

Difference Between System Software and Application Software

The main difference between system software and application software is that system software is designed to run the hardware and application programs of a computer, whilst application software is designed to fulfil a specific need or perform specific tasks other than one relating to the operation or maintenance of a computer.

System software and application software are also triggered differently. System software is triggered when a computer or device is turned on and stays on until the device is turned off, whilst application software is manually triggered by a user after the device is turned on and needs system software to run.