What primarily differentiates system software from application software?

System software and application software serve distinct purposes within a computer system. The primary differentiator lies in their functionality. System software includes the operating system and utility programs that help manage and operate computer hardware, ensuring that other software can run effectively. This software is not typically designed to perform tasks that benefit the end-user directly, but rather to provide a platform and interface for application software.

In contrast, application software is designed with specific tasks or user requirements in mind, allowing end-users to carry out activities such as word processing, data management, or graphic design. While user interfaces, human intervention, and performance metrics do play important roles in computing, they do not fundamentally define the core distinction between system and application software. Functionality focuses precisely on the purpose of the software—system software enables hardware functionality and resource management, whereas application software allows users to perform specific tasks.