What is the difference between system software and application software?

• A. System software manages hardware and provides a platform; application software performs user tasks.
• B. System software performs user tasks; application software manages hardware.
• C. System software is optional; application software handles the internet.
• D. System software runs on servers; application software runs on desktops only.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how software is organized to work with the computer. System software provides the foundation by controlling hardware resources, managing memory, and coordinating input and output, so programs can run. It creates the platform that other software uses, with the operating system and device drivers handling the details of the machine. Application software, on the other hand, is the set of programs you use to accomplish tasks—word processors, web browsers, games—built to run on top of that foundation. It relies on system software to access hardware and manage resources, but it’s aimed at user-focused tasks rather than managing the computer itself. So the statement that system software manages hardware and provides a platform, while application software performs user tasks, captures the essential distinction.