What is an application?

Computers

What is an application?

You may have heard people talking about using an application or an app. But what exactly does that mean? An app is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, and those for mobile devices are called mobile apps. When you open an application, it runs inside the operating system until you close it. Most of the time, you will have more than one application open at the same time, and this is known as multitasking. 

Types of desktop applications 

There are countless desktop applications out there, and they fall into many different categories. Some are more full-featured (like Microsoft Word), while others may only do one or two things (like gadgets). Below are just a few types of applications you might use: 

Word processors: A word processor allows you to write a letter, design a flyer, and create many other types of documents. The most well-known word processor isMicrosoft Word.Personal finance: Personal finance software, such asQuicken, allows you to keep track of your income and expenses and create a budget, among other tasks. Most personal finance programs can automatically download information from your bank so you don't have to manually type in all of your transactions.Web browsers: A web browser is the tool you use to access the Internet. Most computers come with a web browserpre-installed, but you can also download a different one if you prefer. Examples of browsers include Internet Explorer,Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari.Games: There are many different games you can play on your computer. They range from card games such asSolitaire to action games like Halo 2. Many action games require a lot of computing power, so they may not work unless you have a newer computer.Media players: If you want to listen to MP3s or watchmovies you've downloaded, you'll need to use a media player. Windows Media Player and iTunes are popular media players.Gadgets: Sometimes called widgets, these are simple applications you can place on your desktop (or on theDashboard if you're using a Mac). There are many different types of gadgets, and they include calendars, calculators,maps, and news headlines.