System Software
lastmod 2015-06-10created 2014-12-103 edits
System software is computer software designed to provide a platform for running application software and to operate and access computer hardware. It is a general term for all computer software for operating a computer system.
System software is the opposite concept of application software, which directly solves users' problems.
System software performs tasks such as transferring data from memory to the hard disk or outputting strings to a display device. System software includes loaders, operating systems, device drivers, programming tools, compilers, assemblers, linkers, utilities, and so on.
Software libraries are sometimes considered system software, but the distinction is not clear-cut. The C runtime library is usually regarded as part of the system, but it is unclear for OpenGL or database libraries.
System software is sometimes located in the non-volatile storage of integrated circuits, which is usually called firmware.