Editing Computer program (section)

===Utility program===
A [[utility program]] is designed to aid system administration and software execution. Operating systems execute hardware utility programs to check the status of disk drives, memory, speakers, and printers.<ref name="pis-ch4-p145">{{cite book
  | last = Stair
  | first = Ralph M.
  | title = Principles of Information Systems, Sixth Edition
  | publisher = Thomson
  | year = 2003
  | page = 145
  | isbn = 0-619-06489-7
}}</ref> A utility program may optimize the placement of a file on a crowded disk. System utility programs monitor hardware and network performance. When a metric is outside an acceptable range, a trigger alert is generated.<ref name="pis-ch4-p146">{{cite book
  | last = Stair
  | first = Ralph M.
  | title = Principles of Information Systems, Sixth Edition
  | publisher = Thomson
  | year = 2003
  | page = 146
  | isbn = 0-619-06489-7
}}</ref>

Utility programs include compression programs so data files are stored on less disk space.<ref name="pis-ch4-p145"/> Compressed programs also save time when data files are transmitted over the network.<ref name="pis-ch4-p145"/> Utility programs can sort and merge data sets.<ref name="pis-ch4-p146"/> Utility programs detect [[computer virus]]es.<ref name="pis-ch4-p146"/>