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Difference between Software and Firmware

Difference between Software and Computer Platform

Last Updated : 16 Jun, 2022

1. Software: Software, as the name suggests, is simply a type of software system that tells or instructs a computer what to do and what not to do and is used to operate computers and perform some particular tasks.

2. Computer Platform: Computer Platform, as the name suggests, is simply a type of digital platform in an environment that is used to execute or pre-host an application or software and is referred to as a computer’s operating system.

Difference between Software and Computer Platform:

S. No.	Parameters	Software	Computer Platform
1.	Definition	Software’s are encoded computer programs or instructions used by computers.	The platform is a type of computer hardware or software or operating system.
2.	Usage	It is used to turn data into information.	It is used to host an application or service.
3.	Features	Features of software include functionality, portability, efficiency, user documentation, etc.	Features of computer platform include functionality, abstraction, architecture, etc.
4.	Benefits	Benefits of software include increased productivity, better customer service, simplified decision making, streamlined communication, etc.	Benefits of computer platform includes mobile computing, low-level functionality, ensures object code execute successfully, etc.
5.	Examples	Examples of software include Linux, Skype, consumer applications, Slack, MS Word, etc.	Examples of computer platform include macOS, OpenVMS, IBM I, AmigaOS, etc.
6.	Types	Types of the software include application software, freeware software, driver, open-source software, etc.	Type of Computer platform includes mainframes, personal computer, minicomputer, etc.
7.	Main purpose	Its main purpose is to enable the computer to perform a specific task.	Its main purpose is to provide a digital platform in which a piece of software is executed.
8.	Consists of	It consists of computer programs and associated configuration files, documentation, etc. that operate together.	It consists of a hardware device and operating system that an application, program, or process runs upon.
9.	Size of	There is no such variation in software.	The following are the size (starting from small) and type of Computer Platform Micro Computers include Desktop computers, Laptops Mini Computers, example: PDP-11 Mainframe Computers, example: CDC 6600 Super Computers, example: PARAM

Difference between Software and Firmware

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