This document discusses the differences between hardware, firmware, software, device drivers, application software, and system software. It defines each term and compares their key characteristics such as physical form, size, development languages, difficulty of updating, and examples. Hardware is physical while firmware and software are types of programs. Firmware controls hardware devices and is small in size. Software provides instructions and comes in various sizes. Application software runs at user request while system software acts as an interface between applications and hardware. Device drivers enable communication between operating systems and specific hardware devices.

1. HARDWARE, FIRMWARE ,
SOFTWARE, DEVICEC DRIVER,
APPLICATION SOFTWARE &
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
Nafizul Islam
nafizulislam2@gmail.com
Abstract
Difference between hardware, firmware and software and difference
between application and system software.

2. Difference between hardware, firmware and software
Hardware Firmware Software
Hardware is a
physical entity.
Firmware’s are
generally a type of
software used to
control hardware
devices.
Software’s are
generally set of
instructions to
instruct computer.
There are different
types of hardware.
There are no such
categories of
firmware.
Various categories of
software includes
application software,
computer
programming tools,
etc.
Programs are
required to run the
hardware.
Types of firmware
includes BIOS, EFI
(Extensible Firmware
Interface), etc.
Types of software
includes application
software, shareware,
system software, etc.
it is intregated of
electric circuit and
printed boards.
Size of firmware is
very small and
generally ranges
between few
kilobytes (Kb).
Size of software is
very big and
generally ranges
between hundred
kilobytes (Kb) to few
gigabytes (Gb)
A hardware may
require
reprogramming.
Firmware’s are
usually developed
using low level
languages.
Software’s are
usually developed
using both low level
languages and high
level languages such
as java.
All physical
components of
computer is
hardware.
Firmware can be a
software.
Software’s cannot be
a firmware.
Updating a hardware
is more difficult than
software and
firmware.
Updating of
firmware’s are
usually difficult.
Updating of
software’s are very
easier.

3. Difference between system software and application software
Sr.
No.
Key System Software. Application Software.
1
Definition System Software is the type of
software which is the interface
between application software
and system.
On other hand Application
Software is the type of
software which runs as per
user request. It runs on the
platform which is provide by
system software.
2
Development
Language
In general System software
are developed in low level
language which is more
compatible with the system
hardware in order to interact
with.
While in case of Application
software high level language is
used for their development as
they are developed as some
specific purpose software.
3
Usage System software is used for
operating computer hardware.
On other hand Application
software is used by user to
perform specific task.
4
Installation System software are installed
on the computer when
operating system is installed.
On other hand Application
software are installed
according to user’s
requirements.
5
User
interaction
As mentioned in above points
system software are specific
to system hardware so less or
no user interaction available in
case of system software.
On other hand in application
software user can interacts
with it as user interface is
available in this case.
6
Dependency System software can run
independently. It provides
On other hand in application
software can’t run
independently. They can’t run

4. Sr.
No.
Key System Software. Application Software.
platform for running
application software.
without the presence of system
software..
7
Examples Some examples of system
software’s are compiler,
assembler, debugger, driver,
etc.
On other hand some examples
of application software’s are
word processor, web browser,
media player, etc.
Device Driver: Device Driver in computing refers to a special kind
of software program or a specific type of software application which controls a
specific hardware device that enables different hardware devices for
communication with the computer’s Operating System
A device driver communicates with the computer hardwares by computer
subsystem or computer bus connected to the hardware.
Device Drivers are very essential for a computer system to work properly
because without device driver the particular hardware fails to work accordingly.