← Years 5–6 Digital Systems

Software

The set of instructions, or programs, that tells hardware what to do. You cannot touch it, and it needs hardware to run. Apps are one kind.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Digital Systems & Security — Module 3, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 4.1 Types of Software and Interrupts — Module 2, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Inside Digital Systems — Module 3

Understanding Software in Years 5–6 Digital Systems

What it does: Software is instructions, not a physical object, so you cannot touch it. Hardware like a keyboard or screen can be touched. You can touch the device that stores or runs software, but not the software itself. A web browser is an app, which is software. A mouse is an input device, which is hardware. Hardware needs software to tell it what to do, and software needs hardware to run. They work together. Apps are programs, so they are software. They are not physical parts.

Common mistakes: The string is missing its closing quote. It should be software = "web browser". The list of apps is missing its closing square bracket. It should end with ].

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 1–10) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Learning
Duo
Which one is software?
A game app on a tabletThe tablet's touchscreen
Matches
software = a physical part you can touch
↓
Software is not physical. It is instructions that cannot be touched. Hardware is the part you can touch.
Applying
Meanings
Term
software
Meaning
The set of instructions, or programs, that tells hardware what to do. You cannot touch it, and it needs hardware to run. Apps are one kind.
Practice
program = "Music app"
Testing
Gaps
is a set of instructions
Check Answer
Spots
1hardware = "laptop"
2software = "web browser

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Quick Questions

1. Which one is software?
A. The tablet's touchscreen
B. A game app on a tablet ✓
An app is a program, which is software. The touchscreen is hardware because you can touch it.
2. Which sentence describes software correctly?
A. Software is a set of instructions that tells hardware what to do ✓
B. Software is the physical parts inside a computer
Software is instructions or programs. Physical parts are hardware.
3. Can you touch software?
A. No, software is instructions, not a physical object ✓
B. Yes, you can pick it up like a keyboard
You can touch the device that stores or runs software, but not the software itself.
4. What does software need in order to run?
A. Nothing, it runs on its own
B. Hardware such as a processor and memory ✓
Software needs hardware to run. Without hardware, the instructions cannot be carried out.
5. Which of these is an example of a program or app?
A. A web browser ✓
B. A mouse
A web browser is an app, which is software. A mouse is an input device, which is hardware.

Match the Pairs

software → The set of instructions, or programs, that tells hardware what to do
app = software → An app is one kind of software, a program that runs on a device
Software cannot be touched, but hardware can → touch(software) = False
Software needs hardware to run → hardware.run(software)
software = a physical part you can touch → Software is not physical. It is instructions that cannot be touched. Hardware is the part you can touch.
software.run(no hardware needed) → Software cannot run on its own. It needs hardware to follow its instructions.

Key Term

software
The set of instructions, or programs, that tells hardware what to do. You cannot touch it, and it needs hardware to run. Apps are one kind.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Software is a set of instructions that tells hardware what to do.
Hint: Type the word for the instructions or programs that tell hardware what to do.
2. Software cannot be touched, but hardware can be touched.
Hint: Type the word for the physical parts of a digital system.
3. Software needs hardware to run.
Hint: Type the word for the physical parts that software needs in order to run.
4. An app is one kind of software.
Hint: Type the short name for a program on a phone or tablet.
5. Software is a set of instructions that hardware follows.
Hint: Type what software is made up of, which tells hardware what to do.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A hardware = "laptop"
B software = "web browser
C print(software, "is code")
D print("Runs on", hardware)
Line B — The string is missing its closing quote. It should be software = "web browser".
Question 2
A apps = ["map", "chat"
B for app in apps:
C print(app, "is software")
Line A — The list of apps is missing its closing square bracket. It should end with ].
Question 3
A def run_app(hardware, app):
B if hardware = "none":
C print("No run", app)
D else:
E print(app, "runs")
Line B — A single = assigns a value. A comparison in an if statement needs ==, so it should be if hardware == "none":.
Question 4
A software = "photo editor"
B can_touch = False
C print("Touch?", can_touch
Line C — The print call is missing its closing bracket. It should be print("Touch?", can_touch).
Question 5
A hardware = "phone"
B app = "calculator"
C print(app, "is a program")
D prnt(app, "needs", hardware)
Line D — The function name is misspelled. It should be print, so the line is print(app, "needs", hardware).

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