# Software

Software (SW) are programs running on a computer, i.e. its non-physical parts (as opposed to hardware); for example an operating system, the Internet browser, games etc. Software is created by the act of programming (and related activities such as software engineering etc.).

Usually we can pretty decisively tell software ans hardware apart, but still there appear edge cases where it might be debatable. Normally software is that about the computer which *can relatively easily be changed* (i.e. reinstalled by a typing a few commands or clicking a few buttons) while hardware is hard-wired, difficult to modify and not expected or designed to be modified. Nonetheless firmware, for instance, is a kind of software in form of instructions which many times are stored in a special kind of memory that's difficult to be reprogrammed and not expected to be reprogrammed often -- some software may be "burned in" into a circuit so that it could only be changed by physically rewiring the circuit (the ME spyware in Intel CPUs has a built-in minix operating system). See also FPGA. There are cases where it may on occasion become difficult to drawn the line and distinguish hardware from software -- the issue was encountered for example by the FSF which certifies some hardware powered solely by free software as *Respects Your Freedom* (RYF): as part of the certification requirements they define what exactly they mean by "software".

## See Also

- algorithm
- free software
- shitware
- rapeware
- malware
- bloatware
- firmware
- hardware
- brain software