Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trialHO YHAT Rocha Dieu Donné
Courses Plus Student 567 PointsThe difference between application, program, software?
Hello! I am a little bit confused with these 3 words, application, program, software. What realy is the difference between them
4 Answers
Kristopher Van Sant
Courses Plus Student 18,830 PointsGreat question! All three words are often used interchangeably, but there is a technical difference.
Software- the programs and other operating information used by a computer. Software can be made up of more than one program. All-encompassing term that is often used in contrast to hardware (the tangible parts of a computer)
Application- A program or group of programs that is designed for the end user. Application software (an application) is a set of computer programs designed to permit the user to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities. Application software cannot run on itself but is dependent on system software to execute.
Program- A set of instructions telling a computer what to do.
"All applications are programs, but a program is not necessarily an application. For example, there are always lots of programs running on the background of an operating system, but since they weren't developed for the end-user, they are not applications. On the other hand, Windows Media Player and Firefox, for example, are applications. They have a Graphical User Interface." - https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-an-app-and-a-program
Hope this helps. :)
Joy Petrie
38 PointsExceptional, clear, comprehensive answer, Kristopher Van Sant. Thank you!
Kristopher Van Sant
Courses Plus Student 18,830 PointsThank you so much Joy! (And Aimee!) So happy that my answer has still been helpful! :)
P.S. Joy, your comment was posted several times so I removed the extra ones :) Happy coding and keep up the awesome work!
Omkar Kibe
1,105 PointsCool Answer! Helped me a lot! Thanks Kristopher!
Kristopher Van Sant
Courses Plus Student 18,830 PointsThanks Omkar! I'm so happy that it helped!! :)
Seho Kim
2,677 PointsGreat question and answer! Thanks!
Aimee Glembotski
Courses Plus Student 1,460 PointsAimee Glembotski
Courses Plus Student 1,460 PointsGreat help and I didn't even ask the question! Thanks for these resources!
Lucas Batista
Courses Plus Student 298 PointsLucas Batista
Courses Plus Student 298 PointsThanks Kris! Great answer! I'll make a post in my blog explaining this.