System software, application software and firmware Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science revision
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In plain words
Hardware is the parts of a computer you can touch. Software is the programs that tell the hardware what to do. Software comes in two kinds: programs that look after the computer, and programs that do jobs for you.
They sit in layers. Your game runs on the operating system. The operating system runs on firmware. The firmware runs on the hardware.
4 things to know
- System software provides the services that the computer requires. It includes the operating system and utility software, such as anti-virus programs and backup tools.
- Application software provides the services that the user requires: a word processor, a spreadsheet, a web browser, a game.
- Firmware is software stored permanently in the hardware, usually in ROM. The bootloader is firmware: it starts the computer and loads the operating system.
- The layers: applications are run on the operating system. The operating system is run on the firmware. The bootloader (firmware) is run on the hardware.
Worked example
Sort these into system software and application software: a spreadsheet, an operating system, an anti-virus program, a photo editor.
- Ask of each: is it there for the computer, or for the user's own task?
- The operating system and the anti-virus program look after the computer. They are system software.
- The spreadsheet and the photo editor do tasks for the user. They are application software.
Tips and tricks
- Utility software is system software, even though the user starts it. It maintains the computer.
- Do not give brand names. Write "a word processor", not the name of a product.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
System software, application software and firmware: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
Which of these is system software?
It provides services the computer itself requires.
Which of these is application software?
It does a task for the user.
What is firmware?
The bootloader, which starts the computer, is firmware.
What does the bootloader do?
It runs directly on the hardware.
Anti-virus software is an example of:
It helps to maintain the computer.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
2 questions, 5 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
System software, application software and firmware
Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 · 5 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Describe the difference between system software and application software.[2]
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System software provides the services the computer needs to run, such as the operating system. Application software provides the services the user needs to do a task, such as word processing.
Explain how hardware, firmware and the operating system are needed to run an application.[3]
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The application runs on the operating system. The operating system runs on the firmware. The firmware (the bootloader) runs on the hardware.
Answers: System software, application software and firmware
- 1. System software provides the services the computer needs to run, such as the operating system. Application software provides the services the user needs to do a task, such as word processing.
- 2. The application runs on the operating system. The operating system runs on the firmware. The firmware (the bootloader) runs on the hardware.