What is the difference between system software and application software?

The distinction between system software and application software is fundamental to understanding how computers function and how users interact with them. System software is designed primarily to manage computer hardware and provide a platform for running application software. It includes operating systems (like Windows or macOS), device drivers, and utilities that allow the hardware components to communicate with each other and with the application software. This type of software acts as an intermediary between the user applications and the computer hardware, facilitating tasks such as memory management, process scheduling, and input/output operations.

On the other hand, application software is developed to help users perform specific tasks or solve particular problems. Examples of application software include word processors, spreadsheets, and database programs. These applications rely on the system software to function properly, as they depend on the underlying operating system and hardware to execute tasks.

Thus, the correct answer highlights the essential role of system software in managing the hardware environment, while application software focuses on providing specific user-oriented functions. This understanding clarifies the relationship between the two types of software and their respective roles within a computer system. The other choices misrepresent or generalize these roles, which are distinct and complement each other in the computing environment.