Program

Program may refer to any of the following:

1. As a verb, program or programming is a term used to describe the process of a programmer developing a software program by programming.

2. As a noun, an application, application software, or program is software on the computer that performs a specific function or task. For example, Microsoft Word is a word processing application that allows users to create and write documents, and a browser, such as the one you are using to view this page, is an application.

Apps vs. Programs

When Apple introduced the iPhone, they popularized the term "App," but an app (application) and program are the same thing. Today, most people think of an "app" as an application on an Apple computer, smartphone, or tablet and a program as something that runs on a computer (e.g., a Windows computer).

Tip

With all the different ways companies and people use these terms, it is best to think of an application, app, and program as the same thing. See our app page for further information on mobile apps.

Programs vs. Scripts

When a program is created, it is compiled into a language that the computer can understand. Once compiled, the program does not need any other programs to run as long it as the computer has the required operating system and platform. A script is not compiled and needs an interpreter to translate the script into something the computer understands. Without an interpreter, the script cannot run on the computer, but once installed a script can run on any platform without needing to be re-written. See our script term for further information and the pros and cons of scripts.

What type of files are program files?

A program file must be an executable file and for software programs running Microsoft Windows end with a file extension of .EXE, .COM, or .PIF. Executing these files runs the program and allows it to be used on the computer. On an Apple Macintosh computer, a program ends with .APP.

Examples of computer programs

There are millions of different programs available for computers, phones, and other devices today. Below are a few examples and the related program category.

Tip

If you visit the program category page, you can see other examples of programs of that category.

Program	Program Category
Adobe Acrobat	PDF reader
Adobe Dreamweaver	HTML editor
Adobe Photoshop	Photo editor
Audacity	Audio software
Comm Central	Fax/Voice/Phone
FileZilla	FTP
Google Chrome	Internet Browser
Hyper Terminal	Terminal program
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation
Microsoft Word	Word processor
Mozilla Thunderbird	E-mail client
Norton Anti-Virus	Antivirus
C++	Programming language
Skype	Chat and VoIP

· See our software page for information on software that is considered a program and software that is a different category.

What is the purpose of a program?

Without application software (programs) your computer would be able to operate with the operating system (system software) but would not be capable of doing anything else. A program gives the computer and user the ability to perform specific tasks. For example, to browse the Interneton a computer, you would install a browser, which is a program that instructs the computer how to visit, display, and navigate a web page. Without a browser program, the computer would not be able to browse the Internet.

What are the basic functions of a program?

The functions of a program vary depending on the type of program. For example, the function of a browser program is to browse the Internet. The function of a word processor is to create, view, and edit documents. A program is usually designed to perform a specific task (function), and only that task. In other words, a word processor program may be able to create a document, but it cannot be used to browse the Internet.

Tip

See our program examples for a list of different types of programs and program categories.

Note

Today, with cloud computing and online services it may be confusing to know how to define a service such as Google Docs. Google Docs is a word processor, but it is a word processor capable of running through the browser and therefore is considered a web-based application and not a program.

Are games programs?

Yes, games are programs, but may be labeled as "games" and not "programs," to distinguish them as designed for leisure rather than productivity. As a category of programs, games have subcategories of their own, such as FPS, MMO, and RPG. For example, Quake is an "FPS game."

Is Microsoft Windows a program?

No. All versions of Microsoft Windows are considered an operating system and not a program.

What was the first program?

The first software program that was held in electronic memory was written by Tom Kilburn. The program calculated the highest factor of the integer 2¹⁸ = 262,144, and was successfully executed on June 21, 1948, at the University of Manchester, England. The computer was called the SSEM (Small Scale Experimental Machine), otherwise known as the "Manchester Baby.". This event is widely celebrated as the birth of software.