Editing Application software (section)

{{Short description|Any computer program for end-user use}}
[[File:Windows 10 Calculator.png|thumb|[[Windows Calculator|A calculator application]] on [[Windows 10]]]]
'''Application [[software]]''' is any [[computer program]] that is intended for [[end-user]] use {{endash}} not [[computer operator|operating]], [[system administration|administering]] or [[computer programming|programming]] the computer. An '''application''' ('''app''', '''application program''', '''software application''') is any program that can be categorized as application software.<ref>{{OED|application software|id=9705}}</ref>{{Ref RFC|4949|notes=no}} Common types of applications include [[word processor]], [[Media player (software)|media player]] and [[accounting software]]. 

The term ''application software'' refers to all applications collectively<ref>{{cite web |title=Application software |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/37919/application-program |work=[[PC Magazine]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]}}</ref> and can be used to differentiate from [[system software|system]] and [[utility software|utility]] software.

Applications may be bundled with the [[computer]] and its system software or published separately. Applications may be [[proprietary software|proprietary]] or [[Open-source software|open-source]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last = Ryan|first = Thorne|url = https://arbiteronline.com/2013/03/14/caffeine-and-computer-screens-student-programmers-endure-weekend-long-appathon/|title = Caffeine and computer screens: student programmers endure weekend long appathon|website = The Arbiter|date = 2013-03-14|access-date = 2015-10-12|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160709054212/https://arbiteronline.com/2013/03/14/caffeine-and-computer-screens-student-programmers-endure-weekend-long-appathon/|archive-date=2016-07-09|url-status=dead}}
</ref>

The short term ''app'' (coined in 1981 or earlier<ref>{{Cite web|title=The History of 'App' and the Demise of the Programmer
| author= Thom Holwerda
| date = 24 June 2011
|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/24882/the-history-of-app-and-the-demise-of-the-programmer/|access-date=2023-01-12|website=osnews.com}}</ref>) became popular with the 2008 introduction of the [[App Store (Apple)|iOS App Store]], to refer to [[Mobile app|applications for mobile devices]] such as [[smartphone]]s and [[Tablet computer|tablets]]. Later, with introduction of the [[Mac App Store]] (in 2010) and [[Windows Store]] (in 2011), the term was extended in popular use to include desktop applications.