Software
Names and abbreviations on this page
NIST — National Institute of Standards and Technology. A United States agency developing measurement science, standards and technology guidance.
Technology terms & practical skills
What it means
Software is the collection of programs and instructions that makes a device perform tasks. A web browser, photo editor and operating system are all software. An application may work locally, depend on an online service, or combine both.
Related skills
Choose by purposeMatch the application to what you need to accomplish.
Review accessUnderstand why an application requests camera, location or file permissions.
Maintain versionsUse trusted update channels and check whether the device is still supported.
An everyday example
Before choosing a document app, check whether it can export a standard file format and whether you can reopen the file after signing out. A subscription and local file ownership are different questions.
What to check
Check recurring charges, export options and accessibility before committing to a tool. Updates can change menus and features.