System Software

What Does System Software Mean?

System software is a platform comprised of Operating System (OS) programs and services, including settings and preferences, file libraries and functions used for system applications. System software also includes device drivers that run basic computer hardware and peripherals.

Techopedia Explains System Software

System software is run by the OS, versus end users. Because system software runs in the background at a basic level, it is considered low-level software.

Basic examples of system software include:

Utility software
System servers
Device drivers
Operating system (OS)
Windows/graphical user interface (GUI) systems

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Margaret Rouse

Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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