This document defines and provides examples of 7 types of software: 1) System software which processes complex information for other programs or large indeterminate data, 2) Application software which solves specific business needs, 3) Engineering/scientific software which aids in research through algorithms, 4) Embedded software which is embedded in hardware to control device features, 5) Product-line software which provides specific capabilities for many customers, 6) Web applications which present information through text and graphics and integrate with databases, 7) Artificial intelligence software which uses non-numerical algorithms to solve complex problems.

1. TYPES OF SOFTWARE
1.SYSTEM SOFTWARE
2.APPLICATION SOFTWARE
3.ENGINEERING/SCIENTIFIC SOFTWARE
4.EMBEDDED SOFTWARE
5.PRODUCT-LINE SOFTWARE
6.WEB APPLICATIONS
7.ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
-- SHREYA VISHWANATH

2. 1.SYSTEM SOFTWARE
 System software is a collection of programs written to service
other programs of a system. Some system software
(example: compilers, editors and file managers) process
complex but determinate information structures. Other
system applications (example: operating system
components, drivers, networking software) process large
indeterminate data.

3. 2.APPLICATION SOFTWARE
 Application software consists of standalone programs that solve a
specific business need/application. It is a group of programs designed for
end users. It resides above system software and includes applications
such as database programs, word processors ad spreadsheets. Some
other examples include graphics suites such as Adobe Creative Suite
which include applications for creating and editing images and Sony
Audio Master Suite is used for audio production.

4. 3.ENGINEERING/SCIENTIFIC SOFTWARE
 Simply, it is a software that aids in research, testing or design. It is
characterized by “NUMBER CRUNCHING ” algorithm. The fields in which
they are applied vary from:
>astronomy to volcanology
>automotive stress analysis to space shuttle orbital dynamics
Computer aided design, system simulation have begun to take on real
time.

5. 4.EMBEDDED SOFTWARE
 A software which resides within a product or system and is used to
implement and control the features and functions for end users and
system itself is called as embedded software. Simply, it is a software
embedded inside hardware which helps users in controlling that
hardware.
 Example: All household products has this type of software such as
keypad control for microwave oven and washing machine, digital
functions in an automobile such as fuel control, braking system etc.

6. 5.PRODUCT-LINE SOFTWARE
 Software designed to provide a specific capability for use by many
different customers is product line software.
 It can focus on a limited and esoteric market place or address mass
consumer markets ,for example, multimedia, database management,
computer graphics etc.

7. 6.WEB APPLICATIONS
 Web applications are set of hypertext files that present information using
text and limited graphics.
 Web apps are evolving into sophisticated computing environments that
not only provide standalone features and content to end user, but also
are integrated with corporate databases.

8. 7.ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
 Artificial intelligence makes use of non numerical algorithms to solve
complex problems that are not amenable to computation or straight
forward analysis.
 Example: Robotics, pattern recognition (image and voice) and game
playing etc.

9. References:
 Software engineering- A practitioner’s Approach,6th edition by Roger S
Pressman.
 Wikipedia.