application program
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Related to application program: Application Program Interface
application program
[‚ap·lə′kā·shən ‚prō·grəm] (computer science)
A program written to solve a specific problem, produce a specific report, or update a specific file.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
application program
(programming, operating system)(Or "application", "app") A
complete, self-contained program that performs a specific
function directly for the user. This is in contrast to
system software such as the operating system kernel,
server processes, libraries which exists to support
application programs and utility programs.
Editors for various kinds of documents, spreadsheets, and text formatters are common examples of applications. Network applications include clients such as those for FTP, electronic mail, telnet and WWW.
The term is used fairly loosely, for instance, some might say that a client and server together form a distributed application, others might argue that editors and compilers were not applications but utility programs for building applications.
One distinction between an application program and the operating system is that applications always run in user mode (or "non-privileged mode"), while operating systems and related utilities may run in supervisor mode (or "privileged mode").
The term may also be used to distinguish programs which communicate via a graphical user interface from those which are executed from the command line.
Editors for various kinds of documents, spreadsheets, and text formatters are common examples of applications. Network applications include clients such as those for FTP, electronic mail, telnet and WWW.
The term is used fairly loosely, for instance, some might say that a client and server together form a distributed application, others might argue that editors and compilers were not applications but utility programs for building applications.
One distinction between an application program and the operating system is that applications always run in user mode (or "non-privileged mode"), while operating systems and related utilities may run in supervisor mode (or "privileged mode").
The term may also be used to distinguish programs which communicate via a graphical user interface from those which are executed from the command line.
This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)
application program
Software that processes data for the user. Except for "system software," which provides the infrastructure in the computer (operating system, utilities and related components), all software programs are application programs.In the entertainment world, it refers to games (see gaming). In the business world, it refers to the data entry, update, query and report programs that make up the company's bread and butter information systems (order entry, billing, inventory, human resources, payroll, manufacturing, etc.).
The term may also refer to a generic application, often called a "productivity program," such as a Web browser, spreadsheet, word processor, database or email program. For a list of major application software categories, see application software. See productivity software, application, program and software. Contrast with system program.
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| Application Programs |
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| This diagram shows the typical application programs that run in a desktop computer. It also shows the major components of the operating system. |
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