Software Definitions

Terms in this set (44)

Algorithm
A series of steps designed to solve a mathematical or other problem.
Instructions
A set of commands that a processor can recognise and act upon.
Program
A stored set of instructions for a computer to execute.
Software
The programs that run on a computer.
Application
Software designed to carry out a useful real-world task.
Platform
A combination of hardware and operating system that supports the running of particular applications.
Programming language
A way of writing instructions for a computer to execute.
Machine code
Instructions in binary used by the CPU.
Low-level language
A programming language that is directed at controlling each machine operation.
High-level language
A programming language that resembles a natural language. Each instruction translates to many machine instructions. It is problem based rather than machine based.
Software engineering
Formal methods to guide the writing of software.
Interface
The boundary between systems or between systems and humans.
Compiler
Translation software that converts high-level source code into machine(object) code.
Interpreter
Translation software that converts source code or other input into machine code which is immediately executed one object at a time.
Linker
Software that combines together a number or separate object code files.
Debugger
Software that helps a programmer track down faults in a program.
Operating system
The software that controls the hardware. It acts as an interface between the user and the hardware and also between applications and the hardware.
Self-booting
The ability of the program to load itself. Some small devices load their applications directly without the need for a conventional operating system.
Web server
A server that handles requests to a website.
Kernel
The lowest level of an operating system that controls the hardware.
Process
A program currently being executed.
Command line
The place where typed commands are given to the operating system.
User interface
The boundary between the computer and the user.
Graphical user interface (GUI)
A user interface that makes use of icons for interacting with the user.
Icon
A picture on screen that represents a file, a program or an action.
Shell
Software that provides a traditional text based interface to an operating system.
Device driver
A program that enables communication between a computer and a peripheral.
Interrupt
A signal to the operating system to stop what it is doing and perform a different task instead.
Applet
A small application that performs one specific task.
Embedded system
A computer system that performs part of an electronic device.
Firmware
Software that is stored permanently in a device, such as control programs for devices.
Client
Software or hardware that requests services from a server.
Server
Software that provides services to a client, or the hardware that is running it.
Utility
A small program designed to carry out a limited maintenance task.
Virus detection
The process of discovering possibly harmful viruses in a computer system.
Spyware
Malicious software that detects what a user is doing and sends the details back to the originator.
Trojan
Harmful software that is disguised as something useful.
Firewall
Software and/or hardware that limits access to and from a computer system.
Disk organisation
The process of arranging files and data bytes on a secondary storage device.
Defragmenter
A utility that brings together file fragments on a disk and collects all the free space in one area.
Editor
Software used for entering source code when writing a program.
Pretty printer
An editor that automatically sets out program code in an easy to read way.
Assembly language
A low-level programming language that uses more memorable mnemonic codes and labels to represent machine-level code. Each instruction corresponds to just one machine operation.
Assembler
Software that translates assembly language code into machine code.
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