Coded instructions that control the operation of a computer or similar electronic device. Software generally exists in one of two forms:
Source code. Alphanumeric instructions as originally written by a programmer in any of numerous programming languages such as Ruby on Rails, Java or Python.
Object code. A translated version of source code instructions, in a numeric form that can be directly processed by a computer or device.
The term software is roughly synonymous with a computer program, and may refer to applications such as word processors, or system software such as database application development tools.