Software is a general term for programs used to operate computers and related devices. There are two main types of software: free software, which respects users' freedom, and proprietary software, where the owner controls user rights. An operating system is a core system program that manages hardware resources and provides services to application programs like Windows, Mac, and Linux. Applications, or apps, are computer programs designed as tools to perform specific tasks and come in different forms like embedded systems apps, Windows apps, web apps, and web services.