APPLICATION SOFTWARE

WHETHER you use a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a smartphone, or even a smartwatch, the quick overview of an application - or app, if you prefer is: It’s every program or application in the device except the operating system and it related software. Windows OS, Apple Macintosh OS X, UNIX/Linux OS, Apple iOS, Android OS, and other operating systems exist only so we can run applications. The long definition of apps encompasses everything from first-person shooter games such as Bioshock: Infinite, to the most strait-laced accounting program, to that app on our smartphone phone that tells us how many steps we’ve taken today, and the app that informs us about the heartbeat rate of our body from the smartwatch. Therefore, Application software is a set of one or more programs designed to solve a specific problem, or do a specific task.

Even though of recent, the lines between the operating system and apps have grown increasingly blurry these years, by incorporating some essentials application software with the operating system together, but there are still applications whose power and scope exceed anything that could be packed into any operating system. In fact, if a job involves information, there’s a program out there that could handle it.

What all software applications has in common is data. Data, alone, though, is not really helpful. For example, 10.432, King Fahad, green tells you nothing. It is not yet information. What software does is make data useful: It processes the data into information. No one program can process all typess of data. Different data must be processed differently by different software to become information.

Generally, software can fall into one of these categories: word processing, spreadsheet, database management, number crunching, graphics, multimedia, communications, or utilities. The number of application software already available in the World are uncountable, but in this article, we will talk about the most commonly used ones in our office and at home for our daily activities. These includes the Word processor app, spreadsheet app, Database software, Graphic package, Educational software, and the Browser apps. Under each one of these application software, we will also talk about their usage, features, and state their examples.

Let’s grab our cup of coffee and continue to read the details about these great applications. Enjoy it!

1 – WORD PROCESSOR/PROCESSING APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Using a computer to create, edit, and print documents of all computer applications, word processing is the most common. To perform word processing, you need a computer, a special program called a word processor, and a printer.

A word processor, or word processing, does exactly what the name implies. It processes words. Word processing is the act of creating, editing, storing, and printing documents using specialized software or devices. It enables you to write text, store it electronically, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and print the final product. Currently word processing programs, however, include the features to customize style of the text, change page formatting, and may be able to add headers, footers, and page numbers to each page. Some may also include a "Word and character Count" option, which counts the words and characters within a document.

Word processors are the most common of all computer applications. Recently word processors are delivered either as a software that users can install on their PC and mobile device or as a cloud service accessible by the web browser. Word processors are used to create a vast array of documents, such as:

Articles
Reports
Memos
Letters
Résumé
Book
Journal and much more.

Microsoft Word Processor Interface for typing text.

Cloud-based word processors

New technologies in cloud computing that arose in this 21st century enables an invention in word processing programs. Cloud-based word processing applications could be delivered over the internet and operated through web browsers.

Early cloud-based word processors lacked some of the advanced functionality of locally installed programs but allowed users to store documents in the cloud and access them from any PC or device connected to the internet, but recent cloud-based word processors have rich of facilities and features just as the offline standalone word processing application. Cloud-based word processor also made it easier for geographically separated teams of people to work together on the same document. Many users found that cloud-based word processors offered enough features to meet their needs, as well as greater convenience, mobility, and collaboration support.

Features of Word Processors

Different word processors have the same basic features and functionalities. Virtually, all word processing applications have the following basic essential features for creating document:

Insertion of text: Every type of electronic word processor, allows you to insert text anywhere in the document.
Deletion of text: One of the features available in word processing program is the ability to erase characters, words, lines, or pages as easily as you can cross them out on paper.
Cut and paste: Word processor also include the features that allows you to remove (cut) a section of text from one place in a document and insert (paste) it somewhere else.
Copy: Ability to make duplicates of a section of text.
Search and replace: Allows you to direct the word processor to search for a particular word or phrase. It can also direct the word processor to replace one group of characters with another everywhere that the first group appears.
Word wrap: The word processor automatically moves to the next line when you have filled one line with text, instead of hiding the previously typed text, and it will readjust text if you change the margins.
Page size and margins: Allows you to define various page sizes and margins, and the word processor will automatically readjust the text so that it fits.
Print: Allows to send a document to a printer machine to get a printed hardcopy.

Word processors that support only the above listed features (and maybe a few others) are called text editors. Most word processors, however, support additional features that enable the manipulation and format documents in more sophisticated ways. These more advanced word processors are sometimes called full-featured word processors. Full-featured word processors commonly support the following features:

File management: Many word processors contain file management capabilities that allows the creation, deletion, move, and search for files.
Font specifications: Allows the change of fonts within a document. For example, the font can be specified to be bold, italics, and underlining. Most of the word processors also let you change the font size and even the typeface.
Graphics: Allows you to embed illustrations and graphs into a document. Some word processors let you create the illustrations within the word processor - others let you insert an illustration produced by a different graphic programs.
Footnotes and cross-references: Automate the numbering and placement of footnotes and enables to easily cross-reference other sections of the document.
Headers, footers, and page numbering: Allows to specify customized headers and footers that the word processor will put at the top and bottom of every page. The word processor automatically keeps track of page numbers so that the correct number appears on each page.
Layout: Allows the specification of different margins within a single document and to specify various methods for indenting paragraphs.
Macros: A macro is a character or word that represents a series of keystrokes. The keystrokes can represent text or commands. The ability to define macros allows you to save yourself a lot of time by replacing common combinations of keystrokes.
Spell checker: A utility that allows you to check the spelling of words. It will highlight any words that it does not recognize.
Tables of contents and indexes: Allows the automatic creation of a table contents and index based on special codes that were inserted in the document.
Thesaurus: A built-in thesaurus allows to search for synonyms without leaving the word processor.
Windows: Allows you to edit two or more documents at the same time. Each document appears in a separate window. This is particularly valuable when working on a large project that consists of several different files simultaneously.
WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get): With WYSIWYG, a document appears on the display screen exactly as it will look when printed on a printing device.

EXAMPLES OF WORD PROCESSORS

There are several numbers of word processing programs and applications available to use. Some of them are installed as standalone application on a PC and mobile device, while some are accessed from the cloud service through web browser. Below, are some examples that include both the cloud-based word processor and the standalone application programs:

Microsoft Word: It is a word processor developed by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft has long been one of the biggest names in word processing. Microsoft Word has been a dominant force in the market since the 1990s. They've led the way in many word processing advancements and continue to be pioneers of new functionality and features up to today.
Corel WordPerfect (WP): Is a word processing application, owned by Corel Corporation.
LibreOffice Writer: It is the free and open-source word processor and desktop publishing component of the LibreOffice software package. Writer is a word processor similar to Microsoft Word and Corel's WordPerfect with many similar features, and file format compatibility.
OpenOffice Writer: It's part of the OpenOffice software package. Writer is a word processor that is like Microsoft Word and Corel's WordPerfect.
Google Docs: It is a word processor included as part of a free, web-based Google Docs suite offered by Google within its Google Drive service. Google Docs is available as a web application - mobile app for Android, iOS, Windows phone, Harmony OS; and as a desktop application on Google's Chrome OS, also called a chrome browser.

2 – SPREADSHEET APPLICATION SOFTWARE

A spreadsheet is a computer application for organization, analysis and storage of data in tabular form. Spreadsheets were developed as computerized analogs of paper accounting worksheets. The program operates on data entered in cells of a table. Each cell may contain either numeric or text data, or the results of formulas that automatically calculate and display a value based on the contents of other cells.

Spreadsheet users can adjust any stored value and observe the effects on calculated values. This makes the spreadsheet useful for logical "what-if" analysis since many cases can be rapidly investigated without manual recalculation. The current spreadsheet applications software can have multiple interacting sheets and can display data either as text and numerals or in graphical form.

In modern spreadsheet applications, several spreadsheets, often known as worksheets or simply sheets, are gathered together to form a workbook. A workbook is physically represented by a file, containing all the data for the book, the sheets, and the cells with the sheets. Worksheets are normally represented by tabs that flip between pages, each one containing one of the sheets, although Numbers changes this model significantly. Cells in a multi-sheet book add the sheet name to their reference, for instance, "Sheet 1!C10". Some systems extend this syntax to allow cell references to different workbooks.

Google Sheet cloud-based spreadsheet showing the cells interface.

Spreadsheets have replaced paper-based systems throughout the business world. Although they were first developed for accounting or bookkeeping tasks, they are now used extensively in any context where tabular lists are built, sorted, and shared.

USES OF SPREADSHEET APPLICATION

There is an endless uses of Spreadsheet software application. However, here are some application areas where Spreadsheet program can be use:

Modelling and Planning
Household Finance Planning
Business Accounts and Budgeting
Invoices
Wages
Predictions/Simulations
Calculations, such as Addition, Subtraction, etc.
Break even analysis
Statistical analysis
Engineering analysis
Logical analysis
Creation of Graphs e.g. bar chart, pie chart.
Data collection from different sources like phone number, prices.
Explore and interpret data in order to draw conclusions for business.

Features of Spreadsheet Software Program

There are so many Spreadsheet programs created and managed by different corporations, but with all these spreadsheet applications have features that differentiate them from the other application programs. Some of the common features you can perform using any of the spreadsheet software are:

Automatic recalculation: This optional feature eliminates the need to manually request the spreadsheet program to recalculate values, unlike the old spreadsheets applications that required a manual request for recalculation.
Real-time update: This feature refers to updating a cell's contents periodically with a value from an external source - such as a cell in a "remote" spreadsheet. For a shared cloud-based, Web-based spreadsheet, it applies to "immediately" updating cells another user has updated.
Locked cell: The selected cells or the entire spreadsheet can optionally be "locked" to prevent accidental overwriting. Typically, this would usually apply to cells containing formulas.
Formulas: A formula identifies the calculation needed to place the result in the cell it is contained within. Spreadsheet have several formulas in it for performing simple and complex calculations on values.
Functions: Spreadsheets usually contain several supplied functions for computation, such as arithmetic operations (for example, summations, averages, and so forth), Math & trigonometric functions, statistical functions, Engineering functions, Financial functions, and so forth.
Charts: Many spreadsheet applications permit charts, graphs, or histograms to be generated from specified groups of cells that are dynamically re-built as cell contents change. The generated graphic component can either be embedded within the current sheet or added as a separate object.
Conditional Formatting: You can use conditional formatting to highlights interesting cells, emphasize unusual values, and visualize data using Data Bars, Color Scales, icon Sets based on criteria.
Cell styles: It quickly format a cell by choosing from pre-defined styles. You can also define your own cell styles.
Sort & Filter: The data can be arranged so that it is easier to analyze. You can sort the selected data in ascending or descending order, or you can temporarily filter out specific values.
Hyperlink: You can use the hyperlink feature to include a link to web page, a picture, an e-mail address, or program.
3D map: This feature can be used to view geographic data on a 3D map, visualized over time. Explore it for insights, animate changes over time and create a video.

Examples of Spreadsheet Software Application

The notable current spreadsheet application software includes:

LibreOffice Calc: LibreOffice Calc is the spreadsheet component of the LibreOffice software package.
Calligra Sheets: Calligra Sheets (formerly KSpread and Calligra Tables) is a free software spreadsheet application that is part of Calligra Suite, an integrated graphic art and office suite developed by KDE.
Corel Quattro Pro: This is a spreadsheet program application developed by Borland and now sold by Corel, most often as part of Corel's WordPerfect Office suite.
Kingsoft Spreadsheets (WPS office): WPS office is an office suite for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, developed by Zhuhai-based Chinese software developer Kingsoft.
NeoOffice: It is an office suite for the mac OS operating system developed by Planamesa Inc.
Google Sheet: Google Sheets is a spreadsheet program included as part of the free, web-based Google Docs office suite offered by Google Inc. within its Google Drive service.
Microsoft Excel: This spreadsheet software program was developed by Microsoft Inc. for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

Spreadsheets share many principles and traits of databases, but spreadsheets and databases are not the same things. A spreadsheet is essentially just one table, whereas a database is a collection of many tables with machine-readable semantic relationships between them. While it is true that a workbook that contains three sheets is indeed a file containing multiple tables that can interact with each other, it lacks the relational structure of a database. Spreadsheets and databases are interoperable - sheets can be imported into databases to become tables within them, and database queries can be exported into spreadsheets for further analysis.

3 - DATABASE APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Data is a collection of a distinct unit of entity. The data is usually in a raw state i.e unprocessed state, and it is meaningless, unless it’s processed before you can get a meaningful information from it. The data can be in many forms, it can be in text, numbers, special characters, media, and many more. Talking in terms of computing, data is basically entity that can be translated into a particular form for effcient movement and processing. E.g of data includes Name, age, record, date of birth, etc.

Whether a small business or large corporation, digital transformation has enabled organizations to generate data at every touchpoint. From customer transaction data to marketing automation, organizations need to store data in an organized manner while ensuring its security.

The database is an organized collection of structured data to make it easily accessible, manageable and updatable. In simple words, a database is a medium or place where the data is stored. In comparison to a phone book in our mobile phones, we can have long collection of contact lists in our phone book. That long collection of contacts stored in the phone book is the data while the phone book application is the database.

In layman terms, consider your school registry. All the details of the students are entered in a single file. You get the details regarding the students in this file. This is called a Database where you can access the information of any student.

An SQL select statement and its result from a database.

A database typically requires a comprehensive Database software program often known as a Database Management System (DBMS) or database in a short form. A DBMS basically serves as an interface between the database and its end-users or programs, allowing users to retrieve, update, and manage how the information is organized and optimized. The database software also handles data storage, backup and reporting, multi-access control, and security. Strong database security is especially important today, as data theft becomes more frequent. Database software can be used in airline reservations, production management functions, medical records in hospitals, and legal records of insurance companies, etc.

Types of databases

There are many different types of databases. The best database for a specific organization depends on how the organization intends to carry out operation on the data.

Relational databases management system (RDBMS): Items in a relational database are organized as a set of tables with columns and rows. Relational database technology provides the most efficient and flexible way to access structured information. Relational databases became dominant in the 1980s. Example of relational databases include Oracle database, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL etc.
Object-oriented databases management system (OODBMS): Information in an object-oriented database is represented in the form of objects, as in object-oriented programming. Examples of Object-oriented database are SmallTalk used in GemStone, LISP used in Gbase, and COP used in Vbase. Object-oriented databases are commonly used in applications that require high performance, calculations, and faster results.
Distributed databases management system (DDBMS): A distributed database consists of two or more files located in different sites. The database may be stored on multiple computers, located in the same physical location, or scattered over different networks. Dbase, SQL Server, FoxPro, and PostgreSQL are some examples of DDBMS.
Data warehouses: A central repository for data, a data warehouse is a type of database specifically designed for fast query and analysis.
NoSQL databases: A NoSQL, originally referring to non SQL or non-relational database, allows un-structured and semi-structured data to be stored and manipulated (in contrast to a relational database, which defines how all data inserted into the database must be composed/structured). NoSQL databases grew popular as web applications became more common and more complex. E.g., MongoDB, CouchDB, HBase, Oracle NoSQL Database, Cassandra DB, and InfoGrid.
Graph databases: A graph database stores data in terms of entities and the relationships between entities.
On Line Transaction Processing (OLTP) databases: An OLTP database is a speedy, analytic database designed for large numbers of transactions performed by multiple users.

These are only a few of the several dozen types of databases in use today. Other, fewer common databases are tailored to very specific scientific, financial, or other functions. In addition to the different database types, changes in technology development approaches and dramatic advances such as the cloud and automation are propelling databases in entirely new directions. Some of the latest databases include Open-source databases. An open-source database system is one whose source code is open source - such databases could be SQL or NoSQL databases.

Cloud databases: A cloud database is a collection of data, either structured or unstructured, that resides on a private, public, or hybrid cloud computing platform. There are two types of cloud database models: traditional and database as a service (DBaaS). With DBaaS, administrative tasks and maintenance are performed by a service provider.
Multi-model database: Multi-model databases combine different types of database models into a single, integrated back end. This means they can accommodate various data types.
Document/JSON database: It is Designed for storing, retrieving, and managing document-oriented information, document databases are a modern way to store data in JSON format rather than rows and columns.
Self-driving databases: The newest and most ground breaking type of database, self-driving databases (also known as autonomous databases) are cloud-based and use machine learning to automate database tuning, security, backups, updates, and other routine management tasks traditionally performed by database administrators.

Data within the most common types of databases in operation today is typically modelled in rows and columns in a series of tables to make processing and data querying efficient. The data can then be easily accessed, managed, modified, updated, controlled, and organized. Most databases use structured query language (SQL) for writing and querying data.

NOTE: SQL is a programming language used by nearly all relational databases to query, manipulate, and define data, and to provide access control.

Features of Database Management System - DBMS Software

There are a variety of DBMS database management tools that provide different features and functionality. Here are the most probable and basic features of a typical DBMS software:

Data Structuring: All information in a digital repository is organized into a clear hierarchical structure with records, tables or objects. Every piece of information that can be add to the database will be organized in a kind of catalogue, so it will be easier to search and update the records later on.
Database Customization: Along with default and necessary elements (records, tables, or objects) that compose a database's structure, there can be created custom elements that meet specific needs of a particular organization.
Data Retrieval: Database management system accepts data input from users and stores it. Users can access the database later on to retrieve their records as a file, viewed it on the screen, or to print it.
Query Languages: A typical DBMS makes it possible to use query languages for collecting, searching, sorting, modifying and other activities that help users manipulate their records in the database.
Multi-user Access: Database software provides multiple users access to all types of information stored in one and the same data store. There is also a security feature that prevents some users from viewing and/or modifying certain data types.
Data Integrity: All information in a database is accessible by several or more users but only one user can change the same piece of data at a time. This capability prevents the database from corruptions and failure.
Metadata: DBMS software provides a metadata library (or a data dictionary) that describes how the database is organized and what elements (objects, related files, records, etc.) compose its structure.
Large Database Maintenance: Large databases of big companies can be maintained only by database management system. These databases require lots of security and other feature like backup and recovery. All these features are contained in DBMS. It can maintain a database with lots of data and information.

4 – GRAPHIC PACKAGE APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Graphics are visual images or designs on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone to inform, illustrate, or entertain. In contemporary usage, it includes a pictorial representation of data, as in manufacturing, in type setting and the graphic arts, and in educational and recreational software. Images that are generated by a computer are called computer graphics.

Therefore, Graphic package refers to a computer program or collection of programs that enable a person to create or manipulate images/models visually on a computer.

A screenshot of the GIMP 2.2.8 raster graphic software.

There are two types of computer graphics: raster and vector graphics. In raster graphics, each pixel is separately defined (as in a digital photograph), and in vector graphics, the mathematical formulas are used to draw lines and shapes, which are then interpreted at the viewer's end such as screen, to produce the graphic. Using vectors results in infinitely sharp graphics and often smaller files, but vector graphics are complex, and it take time to render and may have larger file sizes than a raster equivalent. There are hundreds or thousands of graphic software applications available. Examples of this graphic application packages are:

Pixlr
PicMonkey
PicsArt
Acorn Image Editor
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Corel PaintShop Pro
Corel Photo-Paint
Photo Raster
GIMP
PicMaster
Adobe Illustrator
Apache OpenOffice Draw
CorelDRAW
Advance Design by GRAITEC
ArchiCAD by Graphisoft
AutoCAD by Autodesk

Application Areas of Graphic Software

Graphics are visual elements often used to point readers and viewers to particular information. They are also used to supplement text in an effort to aid readers in their understanding of a particular concept or make the concept more clear or interesting. The following lists briefly highlight the areas that graphic software can be apply.

Business: Graphics software are commonly used in business and economics to create financial charts such as graphs, and in creating tables. Business Graphics can be used to highlight changes over a period of time.
Advertising: Advertising is one of the most profitable uses of graphics – artists often do advertising work or take advertising potential into account when creating art. Most importantly, graphics give a good look to artwork whenever it is applied.
Political: Graphics can be used for overtly political purposes – such as in designing cartoons, graffiti, poster art, flag design, etc.
Education: Graphics are heavily used in textbooks, especially those concerning subjects such as geography, science, and mathematics, in order to illustrate theories and concepts, as the human anatomy.
Film and animation: Computer graphics are often used in the majority of new feature films, especially those with a large budget. Examples of Films that heavily use computer graphics include Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Features of Graphic Packages

Variety of graphic applications have different features, because some are designed for simple graphical task such as painting, while others were designed to perform a heavy complex graphical design such as in manufacturing or in designing complex devices/objects. Whether you will be using a simple or high-tech graphic package in the future, you will come across the following basic features.

Title bar: It contains the program name, file name and sizing bars.
Tool bar: Is where all the tools needed for the design are located. Tools such as shapes, select, eraser, brush, text etc.
Menu bar: It is a region of a screen or application interface where drop down menus are displayed
Printable area: The region where all the design work is done, i.e. the drawing, painting, inserting of tools and colours.
Colour palette: Is a designing tool for creating colour combinations that work well together.
Status bar: This gives the position and status of the cursor. It displays the page number, line number etc.

5 – EDUCATIONAL APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Educational software application is a term used for any computer software application which is made for an educational purpose. It encompasses different ranges from language and problem-solving learning software to classroom management software to reference software, etc. The purpose of all this software is to make some part of education more effective and efficient.

Educational software integrates multimedia content and provides users a high interactivity level. These features distinguish the educational software from traditional teaching practices. Multimedia content, such as graphics, pictures, and sound help engage students in their lessons. Some examples of educational software are:

Schoology
Google Classroom
Blackboard Learn
Power School SIS
Skyward Student
Gradelink
Infinite Campus
Ellucian Banner Student
Mc.Graw-Hill Connect
LanSchool
PowerSchool Unified
GoGuardian Teacher
Britannica
Encarta
Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite

Benefits of Educational Software

Education software is hugely beneficial for instructors, administrators, students, and parents alike. Solutions in these categories provide users with a host of benefits, from improved visibility and content distribution to analytics and better communication channels. Smart content, enhanced communication, consolidation of data and information, and improved efficacy and efficiency are all benefits that accompany the implementation of education software.

Smarter Content: Education software has the potential to revolutionize the way in which content is created and presented to students. Digital content embedded with artificial intelligence capabilities can offer material that adapts to students’ knowledge levels. This smart content is easily changed, distributed, and reused by different generations of students.
Enhanced Teacher, Parent, and Student Communication: Clear communication between teachers, parents, and students is vital to the learning process. There needs to be a strong level of respect and trust that exists to properly educate students. Education software and apps help develop strong bonds between all parties through forums, portals, and other interactive elements. Parents and students have tools that promote easy communication between themselves, teachers, and administrators.
Information Unification: Many types of education software are designed to combine related information in a centralized repository. Unification of all related data within a single program allows for better oversight and the extraction of more accurate insights from that data. Administrators and education professionals can utilize those insights to guide both teaching strategy at a lower level and administrative policy at a higher level.
Improved Efficiency and Efficacy: The goal of any institution is to become more efficient and effective, and education software helps organizations achieve these goals. Teachers can utilize resources such as classroom management software to limit distractions and improve concentration on course material. Administrators can leverage the insights afforded by information systems to shape policy and administrative decisions.
Provision of Better Learning Environment: Education professionals are tasked with ensuring student understanding of class material. The amount of available education applications, and the breadth of functionality they cover in concert, provides educators with the tools necessary to create the best possible learning environment for their students. That may take the form of digital materials supplemented with Augmented/Virtual Reality - AR/VR software in the classroom, the use of a learning management system, classroom management tools designed to keep students on task, or something else entirely. Teachers adapt their classrooms and alter their teaching styles according to each group of students’ needs. Education software helps teachers change their learning environments by providing tools that can cater to every learning style.

Google Classroom Educational cloud-based application.

Features of Educational Software,

While all education software is geared towards the goal of learning, for this software to become effective and efficient, it should have the following features:

Easy to use the User Interface (UI): A good education software has to have easy to learn navigation between the features it offers so that both students and teachers access the software’s full capabilities. An excellent interface should be applicable to any grade level with a complete set of intuitive icons, toggles, and navigation bars that allows users to switch from one activity to another if needed. An excellent user interface should be simple even to new users to lessen frustrations and reduce the time taken to learn all features the education software has to offer. A good user interface should also be applicable in all platforms and devices accessible by students and teachers like Android OS, iOS mobile platforms, and PC.
Feedback: Learning is never complete without feedback. This allows students to keep track of their progress and improvement in the learning curriculum. Teachers will also be able to track their students’ progress and see where they can improve on them using several formats like graphs or revision that can be provided through specific software packages.
Easy to Customize: Not all students or teachers teach and learn the same curriculum. Some students may also have interest in other courses outside the ones provided by their teachers. A good education software should allow for easy personalization so that both students and teachers can be able to create profiles that they can save their current work and revisit later. This will also allow individual students to structure their learning tools towards their level and pace in case they share the same course with other students.
Interactive Learning: One of the most important features of education software is its ability to interact with users. Having the software that not only adjusts to personalization but also provides suggestions and other tools that can enhance interaction and retention of information is the best thing to happen in the education software industry.
Graphics and Layout: When it comes to good technology software for education, graphics and design come to mind. How the software is mapped makes for more straightforward navigation for both students and teachers and makes it even simple for new users. Excellent graphics can make a difference when it comes to charts, graphs, equations, and even diagrams as they are essential in making the education software.

6 – WEB BROWSER APPLICATION

A web browser also known as a browser, is a software application used for accessing information on the World Wide Web. When a user sends a requests of web page from a particular website, the web browser retrieves the necessary content from a web server that stored the contents for the website, and then displays the page on the user's devices.

Web browsers are used on a range of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. In 2021, an estimated 4.9 billion people used a browser, with more than half of the users in Asia alone. The most used browser is Google Chrome, with almost 66% global market share on all devices, followed by Safari with 17%. (Statista Febraury, 2022)

Screenshot of Microsoft Edge Browser.

Most browsers use one of the device’s internal storages called cache, to store web page resources to improve loading times for subsequent visits to the same page. The cache can store many items, such as large images, so they do not need to be downloaded from the server again and again. Cached items are usually only stored for as long as the web server stipulates in its HTTP response messages.

Examples of Web Browser includes:

Google Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Mozilla Firefox
Internet Explorer
Safari
QQ browser
Sogou Explorer
Opera
Yandex Browser
UC Browser

Features of Web Browsers

The most popular browsers have a common number of features in them for easy usage. They can also be customized with extensions, and some of them provide async service. Most browsers have the following basic features incorporated with them:

Tabbed browsing: Allow the user to open multiple pages at the same time, either in different browser windows or in different tabs of the same window.
Navigation buttons: These are Back and forward buttons. They are used to go back to the previous page visited or forward to the next one.
Refresh/Reload and Stop/Cancel Button: It is used to reload the webpage or to cancel loading the current page. In most browsers, the stop button is merged with the reload button.
Home button: It loads/return to the user predefined home page. You can select any page as browser's home by clicking on tools menu and selecting options.
Address bar: It is used to enter the address of a web page or website.
Search bar: It is used to input terms into a search engine. In some browsers, the search bar is merged with the address bar.

There are several numbers of great other applications out there. The choice depend on what data you want to process and the kind of information you want to obtain from the processed data for a required task at hand. The application programs made human life more easier by automating most of our tasks, and providing the result in a shortest possible time.

Also, the result of the processed data we obtained from the applications are more accurate than the ones we obtained directly from manual operation. Most of the industries and organizations had relied heavily on application software designed specifically for performing more of their internal and external operations for effective and efficient outputs/results.