software

Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it. In other words, software is a conceptual entity which is a set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system. We can also say software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer for some purposes. In other words software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation. Program software performs the function of the program it implements, either by directly providing instructions to the computer hardware or by serving as input to another piece of software. The term was coined to contrast to the old term hardware (meaning physical devices). In contrast to hardware, software is intangible, meaning it "cannot be touched".

The United States lost more than $8 billion to software piracy in 2007, and small businesses using unlicensed software continue to face serious legal, financial and technological risks.

To help American small businesses avoid the risks of software piracy, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) are partnering for a multi-year education program, Smart About Software: Software Strategies for Small Businesses.By using the tools and tips for responsible management available on this website, small businesses can protect themselves from the legal and financial consequences of using unlicensed software.