Master Computer Essentials 2026 – Unleash Your Tech-Savvy Superpowers!

Understanding the difference between system software and application software is key. System software provides the base that controls hardware and enables other programs to run. An embedded operating system and a real-time operating system are types of system software because they manage hardware resources and timing, which keeps devices functioning properly. Device drivers are also system software; they bridge communication between the OS and hardware components.

Word processing software is an application program. It performs a user task—creating and editing documents—by using services provided by the system software, but it is not involved in managing hardware or the core operations of the computer. Therefore, it is not an example of system software.