What is the primary function of system software?

The primary function of system software is to manage hardware and software resources. System software serves as a bridge between the hardware of a computer and the application software that users run. It includes operating systems like Windows, macOS, or Linux, which orchestrate how different components of the computer interact and work together. This management involves allocating system resources, such as memory, processing power, and storage, ensuring that applications can run efficiently and effectively.

In contrast, user-specific tasks are primarily addressed by application software, which is designed to help users perform specific activities, such as word processing or web browsing. The communication between software applications is an important function, but it mainly falls under the domain of middleware or application software, rather than system software. Security for files and data can be part of system software, but it is usually a feature offered by specific applications or services designed to protect against data breaches, rather than a primary function of all system software. Thus, the management of hardware and software resources stands out as the central role of system software.