Application software
Application software is a loosely defined subclass of
computer software that employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform. This should be contrasted with
system software which is involved in integrating a computer's various capabilities, but typically does not directly apply them in the performance of tasks that benefit the user. The term
application refers to both the
application software and its implementation.
A simple, if imperfect,
analogy in the world of hardware would be the relationship of an electric light—an application—to an electric power generation plant—the system. The power plant merely generates electricity, itself not really of any use until harnessed to an application like the electric light which performs a service that the user desires.
The exact delineation between the
operating system and application software is not precise, however, and is occasionally subject to controversy. For example, one of the key questions in the
United States v. Microsoft antitrust trial was whether Microsoft's
Internet Explorer web browser was part of its
Windows operating system or a separable piece of application software. As another example, the
GNU/Linux naming controversy is, in part, due to disagreement about the relationship between the
Linux kernel and the
Linux operating system.
Typical examples of
software applications are
word processors,
spreadsheets, and
media players.
Multiple applications bundled together as a package are sometimes referred to as an
application suite.
Microsoft Office and
OpenOffice.org, which bundle together a word processor, a spreadsheet, and several other discrete applications, are typical examples. The separate applications in a suite usually have a
user interface that has some commonality making it easier for the user to learn and use each application. And often they may have some capability to interact with each other in ways beneficial to the user. For example a spreadsheet might be able to be embedded in a word processor document even though it had been created in the separate spreadsheet application.
User-written software tailors systems to meet the user's specific needs. User-written software include spreadsheet templates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, graphics and animation scripts. Even email filters are a kind of user software. Users create this software themselves and often overlook how important it is.
In some types of
embedded systems, the application software and the operating system software may be indistinguishable to the user, as in the case of software used to control a
VCR,
DVD player or
Microwave oven.
See also:
List of software applicationsApplication software*
Baudline*
DADiSP*
JMP*
Maple*
MathCAD*
Mathematica*
MATLAB*
Maxima*
Minitab*
Computer algebra systems
*
Statistical packages
*
Numerical computing*
Computer-aided engineering*
Neural network software*
Blog*
Wiki*
E-mail*
Web browser*
Accounting software*
Back office*
Business management systems
*
Business software* Business
workflow software
*
Customer relationship management*
Electronic business software
*
Enterprise resource planning*
Operational risk management*
Management information systems*
Product Lifecycle Management*
Project management software*
Supply chain management*
DBMS*
Arcade*
Computer and Video Games*
Handheld Game Consoles Games
*
Video Game Console Games
*
Wireless or
Mobile Phone Games
*
Media players* Media Editing
**
Image editing software**
Desktop publishing software**
Video editing software **
Sound editing software **
Music sequencer**
Hypermedia editing software *
Hybrid editor players* Media Data Formats
**
Raster graphics**
Vector graphics**
3D graphics**
Animation**
Video**
Digital audio**
MIDI* Media File Formats
**
Graphic file formats **
Video file formats **
Audio file formats* Technical Modeling and Rendering
**
Computer-aided design (CAD)Other
*
Educational software* http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/
*
Definition of Application software @ Webopedia*
Application Development 
