A system software component that is external to the operating system kernel. If the phrase is used to refer to the operating system itself, it is redundant because an operating system "is" software.

An operating system is the essential software that's needed to run your computer's suite of software. Everything from video games to web browsing, basic word processing, and more is down thanks to the ...

Software used to control the computer and develop and run applications. It includes programs such as operating systems, database managers, compilers, Web servers, router operating systems and control ...