Software vs Hardware — Types of Software | IGCSE Computer Science

Exam Frequency Analysis

Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)

This topic accounts for approximately 3% of your exam marks.

stable

Rare

Stable3%

OS functions and utility software appear occasionally as short definition/example questions.

A computer is built from two things working together:

Hardware: the physical parts you can touch (CPU, RAM, hard drive, keyboard, screen).
Software: the programs that tell the hardware what to do, made of binary instructions stored in memory.

Software itself splits into two big categories:

System software: programs needed to make the computer itself usable. The operating system and utility programs belong here.
Application software: programs that the user chooses to install in order to do a specific job (write a document, edit photos, play a game).