Software is a set of instructions or programs that tell a computer how to perform specific tasks. It is a collection of data or computer instructions that tell the computer how to work. Software can be categorized into two main types: system software and application software. System software includes operating systems, device drivers, and utilities that help manage the computer hardware and provide a platform for running application software. Application software includes programs that perform specific tasks for users, such as word processing, web browsing, and gaming.