A computer software application, or application for short, is a program or set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Applications can be as simple as a text editor or as complex as a full-fledged operating system.

Applications are usually written in a programming language such as C++ or Java. They are then compiled into a form that the computer can understand, known as machine code. Programs that are not applications, such as system utilities and drivers, are usually written in assembly language.

Applications can be divided into two categories: system applications and user applications. System applications are …