software
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software
All programs, applications, and data that run on a computer or another electronic device, as opposed to the physical hardware.
Für die Videobearbeitung benötigst du eine spezielle Software.
For video editing, you need special software.
'Software' is a word that was borrowed directly from English and has the same meaning in German. The German article is 'die'.
Die neue Software ist sehr benutzerfreundlich.
The new software is very user-friendly.
Similar to English, 'Software' is often used as an uncountable noun, especially when speaking about it in general. In such cases, no article and no plural form are used.
Auf meinem Computer ist veraltete Software installiert.
Outdated software is installed on my computer.
Common verbs used with 'Software' are 'installieren' (to install), 'aktualisieren' (to update) or 'updaten' (to update), 'entwickeln' (to develop), and 'nutzen' (to use).
Du solltest deine Software regelmäßig aktualisieren.
You should update your software regularly.
program
'das Programm' and 'die Software' both belong to the computer world. 'ein Programm' is usually a specific application or a concrete sequence of instructions, for example a word-processing program. 'Software' is the more general term for all programs, applications, and data on a device. Learners can confuse the words because a program is always software. But not all software means just one individual program. When you open or use something specific, 'Programm' often fits. When you are talking about the technical whole, 'Software' is usually better.
Wegen der Arbeit installiert Yusuf neue Software auf seinem Laptop.
Because of work, Yusuf is installing new software on his laptop.
Kannst du mir zeigen, wie dieses Programm die Fotos sortiert?
Can you show me how this program sorts the photos?