Application Software: Word Processing Software

Application software is a program or group of programs designed for end users. These programs are divided into two classes: system software and application software. While system software consists of low-level programs that interact with computers at a basic level, application software resides above system software and includes applications such as database programs, word processors and spreadsheets. Application software may be bundled with system software or published alone.

Application software may simply be referred to as an application.

Different types of application software include:

• Application Suite: Has multiple applications bundled together. Related functions, features and user interfaces interact with each other.
• Enterprise Software: Addresses an organization’s needs and data flow in a huge distributed environment
• Enterprise Infrastructure Software: Provides capabilities required to support enterprise software systems
• Information Worker Software: Addresses individual needs required to manage and create information for individual projects within departments
• Content Access Software: Used to access content and addresses a desire for published digital content and entertainment
• Educational Software: Provides content intended for use by students
• Media Development Software: Addresses individual needs to generate and print electronic media for others to consume.

Word Processing Software

Word processing software is used to manipulate a text document, such as a resume or a report. You typically enter text by typing, and the software provides tools for copying, deleting and various types of formatting. Some of the functions of word processing software include:

• Creating, editing, saving and printing documents.
• Copying, pasting, moving and deleting text within a document.
• Formatting text, such as font type, bolding, underlining or italicizing.
• Creating and editing tables.
• Inserting elements from other software, such as illustrations or photographs
• Correcting spelling and grammar

Word processing includes a number of tools to format your pages. For example, you can organize your text into columns, add page numbers, insert illustrations, etc. However, word processing does not give you complete control over the look and feel of your document. When design becomes important, you may need to use desktop publishing software to give you more control over the layout of your pages.

Word processing software typically also contains features to make it easier for you to perform repetitive tasks. For example, let’s say you need to send a letter to all your customers regarding a new policy. The letter is the same for all customers except for the name and address at the top of the letter. A mail merge function allows you to produce all the letters using one template document and a table with customer names and addresses in the database.

Text editors shouldn’t be confused with word processing software. While they do also allow you to create, edit and save text documents, they only work on plain text. Text editors don’t use any formatting, such as underlined text or different fonts. Text editors serve a very different purpose from word processing software. They are used to work with files in plain text format, such as source code of computer programs or configuration files of an operating system. An example of a text editor would be Notepad on the Windows platform.