What is software?

Answer 1

Software is a term for a set of instructions, which makes a computer to perform a task. The set of instructions are commonly known as a program, without which computers cannot do any operations. A software is classified broadly in to two groups, application software, which includes normal utility applications like Microsoft Word, powerpoint etc that interacts and performs user specific tasks and system software, such as operating systems, which interacts directly with hardware to make the system work and also provide a platform for other applications to work. Computer software, or simply software is any set of machine-readable instructions that directs a computer's processor to perform specific operations. A software is a program or other information used by a computer to operate. Anything that is saved or stored in an electronic format is called as a software. A software performs necessary functions to run a set of actions.

Software means a collection of computer data and instructions. Generally speaking, software contains programming languages, system software, application software and other middleware. Not only the program, running on PCs, is considered as software, some documents related to computer program are also deemed as software. Thus we can define software as an aggregate of program and documents.

From World Book Encyclopedia:

Software is a general term for computer programs. A computer program consists primarily of a sequence of instructions. The instructions tell a computer what to do and how to do it.

How software works. Software works together with hardware. Hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as its keyboard, screen, processor, and memory chips. Software provides instructions and data (information) that hardware uses.
software is a set of rules to perform a specific topic The word software is a noun. The programs and operating information installed on your computer is software.

Answer 2

Software is the program that is running on your hardware. For example, your computer is a piece of hardware that performs one specific task. A software program gets loaded onto the hardware and can perform many different functions. A good example of a software program would be the video game you play on your laptop PC. The PC would be the hardware that you use with the software.

Answer 3

Software means computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically is software, in contrast to storage devices and display devices which are called hardware.