Faculty of computer engineering information security direction

System software is intended to manage the system resources, whereas application software enables the user to perform some specific set of s or functions. The system software also simplifies application programming. Examples of System Software are operating systems, firmware, database management systems, device drivers, networking software, assemblers, compilers, translators, and software utilities.

So, What Is Application Software?

To quote Wikipedia, “an application program (app or application for short) is a computer program designed to carry out a specific task other than one relating to the operation of the computer itself, typically to be used by end-users.” This specific task can be in line with the user requirements.
We can define application software as software that employs the capabilities of a computer to accomplish a dedicated task. The user will be interacting directly with a piece of software in the case of application software. IT helps them to be more productive and assists them in fulfilling specific personal or business tasks.

Examples of application software are Microsoft Word, spreadsheets, VLC media player, Firefox or Google Chrome, accounting applications, photo editor, mobile apps such as video games, Whatsapp, etc. It also includes software that is internally/externally developed to fulfill the unique needs of an organization Application software will always be based on an operating system.

Types of Application Software: An Extensive List for 2021

Every sphere of businesses needs application software as digitization and use of the software is rampant in all domains including healthcare and pharmacy, home, education, industries, communication, engineering, travel & tourism, etc. Different types of application software are used for information management, data manipulation, visual construction, resource coordination, and calculations.

A broader way to give the list of application software is as below.

• 
  Packaged Software
  
• 
  Custom Software
  
• 
  Shareware
  
• 
  Freeware
  
• 
  Public domain Software
  

But, in this blog, I prefer to give the application software list as an index of commonly used types of application software. Each of these types of software programs belongs to the above-listed broader types of applications as well.

• 
  Word processors
  
• 
  Graphics software
  
• 
  Database software
  
• 
  Spreadsheet software
  
• 
  Presentation software
  
• 
  Web browsers
  
• 
  Enterprise software
  
• 
  Information worker software
  
• 
  Multimedia software
  
• 
  Content access software
  

The list of application software can be an exhaustive one. Let me attempt to elucidate a few of the application software from this list.