Grade 8 System Software and Application Software 2025
Every computer must have computer software in order to do certain
tasks. Software may be defined as programs on the computer. Software
is used to make the computer a useful tool.
The two categories of software are:
1. System Software
2. Application Software
System Software: Program designed to control and monitor hardware and
software resources of the computer system.
3 types of system software:
1. Operating systems
2. Utilities
3. Translators
Operating systems (OS): OS are a set of programs that monitor and co-
ordinate software and hardware within a computer system. Examples of
OS are Windows, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS and DOS.
Utilities: Utilities are systems software that support the operating system
in its housekeeping tasks to increase the effectiveness of the computer
system. Examples include text editors, anti-virus software, back-up
software, anti-spam and compression utility.
Translators or language processors: Computers understand only binary
language (ones and zeroes). All other programming instructions have to
be converted into binary language or machine language.
Three main types of translators:
1. Assemblers
2. Interpreters
3. Compilers
Grade 8 System Software and Application Software 2025
Application Software
Application Software: This software is used to enable users to get their
task done on the computers.
NB: A software designed to perform a specific purpose.
Classification of Application software
1. Integrated Software: Is a set of related programs combined in a
unified package that allows data to be transferred easily between
the programs.
Example: Microsoft Office
2. Custom-written software: Software written for one user (set of
users) or companies and is not used by other companies or users.
Example: software for NCB
3. Specialized Software: Software written to solve ONE particular
problem or need of the user.
Examples: Rosetta stone
4. General Purpose Software: This software allows the user to do a
wide variety of tasks.
Grade 8 System Software and Application Software 2025
ACTIVITY
Answer the following questions:
1. What is software?
2. What are the types of software?
3. State whether the following software is system or application
Ubuntu____________
Norton Anti-virus____________
Internet Explorer_____________
Linux 2.2 ____________
Need for speed game_________________
4. State whether each application software is general purpose,
custom-written, specialized or integrated
Documents to go______________
Cardio Trainer _____________
Microsoft Word_____________
Microsoft Office ____________
AutoCAD______________
Peachtree______________
Leapfrog______________
Scotia bank computer software _______________
Difference Between System Software and
Application Software
System Software Application Software
System Software maintains the system
Application software is built for
resources and gives the path for
specific tasks.
application software to run.
While high-level languages are
Low-level languages are used to write
used to write the application
the system software.
software.
Grade 8 System Software and Application Software 2025
System Software Application Software
While it’s a specific purpose
It is general-purpose software.
software.
Without system software, the system While Without application
stops and can’t run. software system always runs.
System software runs when the
While application software runs
system is turned on and stops when
as per the user’s request.
the system is turned off.
Example: System software is an Example: Application software is
operating system, etc. Photoshop, VLC player, etc.
System Software programming is Application software
more complex than application programming is simpler in
software. comparison to system software.
The Software that is designed to A set of computer programs
control, integrate and manage the installed in the user’s system and
individual hardware components and designed to perform a specific
application software is known as task is known as application
system software. software.
A system software operates the Application software runs in the
system in the background until the front end according to the user’s
shutdown of the computer. request.
The system software has no
Application software connects
interaction with users. It serves as an
an intermediary between the
interface between hardware and the
user and the computer.
end user.
Grade 8 System Software and Application Software 2025
System Software Application Software
Application software is
dependent on system software
System software runs independently.
because they need a set platform
for its functioning.
