Agency Dictionary

Software

noun

In Portuguese: Software

Technology & AI

What does “Software” mean?

The complete set of instructions, programs, algorithms, and data that direct a computer hardware system to perform specific tasks. It is intangible, adaptable, and easily updated across network connections.

Etymology

Formed from soft and ware as a deliberate counterpart to hardware (the physical machine), and first recorded in print in 1958, in an article by the statistician John Tukey. Soft here contrasts with the rigid, physical nature of hardware; ware follows the pattern of hardware, firmware, and flatware.

Usage note

Software typically refers to programs and operating systems as a category; application or app refers to a specific end-user program.

Synonyms

program

Word family

firmware
middleware
shareware

Rhymes with

care
share
air
where

Usage examples

using a software to design another software
Design.2 - Demystifying UX/UI Design Pt.1
If a product is intangible, like an e-book, software, game, or even a Miles Morales skin on Fortnite, then it was made for a user.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Design.2 - Demystifying UX/UI Design Pt.1June 8, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

Rendernoun: A finished two-dimensional image or video generated from a three-dimensional mathematical scene by computer software. It synthesizes geometric coordinates, lighting algorithms, textures, and shading into final pixels.
syntheticadjective: Produced by artificial or chemical synthesis rather than originating from natural or organic processes.
androidnoun: A robot or synthetic organism designed to possess human form, movement, or intelligent behavior.
aqueductnoun: An engineered conduit or bridge designed to convey water from distant freshwater springs into urban centers using gravity flow.
Assistantnoun: A person or computational software program that provides aid, support, or automated services to facilitate work and handle routine tasks.
asynchronousadjective: Not occurring at the same time or coordinated simultaneously, describing workflows or interactions handled independently across time.
binaryadjective: Relating to or composed of two things, specifically a computational numbering system using base two digits.
Compassnoun: A navigational instrument equipped with a magnetized needle indicating magnetic north and other cardinal directions. Metaphorically, it designates an ethical principle or core belief providing personal guidance.
Consolenoun: A text-based command interface inside computer software where system operators and players enter manual code commands. In video games, opening the console allows users to modify internal variables and enter cheats.
Databasenoun: A structured, organized collection of digitized data stored electronically in a computer system and accessible through various retrieval and querying mechanisms.

Also from these editions: terms

Buttonnoun: A physical or graphical control element that triggers an immediate action or command when pressed or clicked. In software interfaces, buttons communicate system affordances through visual boundaries and labels.
Consumernoun: An individual or group that acquires, purchases, or consumes physical or commercial goods and services for personal use. In marketing, consumers are studied for purchasing patterns and brand preferences.
Astronautnoun: A person trained and equipped to travel and operate beyond the atmosphere of the Earth. In space exploration, astronauts perform scientific experiments and navigate spacecraft under extreme conditions.
Screennoun: A flat physical display surface on an electronic device that projects visual images, interfaces, and text to a viewer. It serves as the primary visual output medium for modern personal computers and mobile phones.
wireframenoun: A skeletal visual guide that outlines the basic structure, hierarchy, and functionality of a user interface.
Tangibleadjective: Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
briefingnoun: A concise set of instructions or background information provided to guide a project or creative assignment.
intangibleadjective: Incapable of being perceived by touch or physical senses, yet possessing recognizable economic or conceptual worth.
Prototypenoun: An early preliminary model of a product from which subsequent forms and manufactured copies are developed and refined.
UX Designnoun: User Experience Design: the discipline focused on the overall experience a person has when interacting with a product, including usability, accessibility, and satisfaction.
Spacesuitnoun: A pressurized protective garment worn by astronauts to survive the harsh vacuum, extreme temperatures, and radiation of outer space. It incorporates life support, thermal insulation, and communications equipment.
Layoutnoun: The spatial arrangement and structural distribution of text, images, and visual elements on a printed page or digital screen. It establishes visual order, reading flow, and aesthetic harmony within a composition.