How can application software be distinguished from system software?

Application software can be distinguished from system software by understanding their primary roles within a computer system. System software, such as operating systems and utilities, is fundamentally designed to manage hardware components and provide support for application software. It serves as a bridge between the user applications and the computer hardware, facilitating resource management and ensuring that the hardware operates efficiently and correctly.

On the other hand, application software is geared specifically towards performing user-oriented tasks. This includes programs that allow users to accomplish specific activities, such as word processing, spreadsheet calculations, or database management. The distinction lies in the fact that application software operates on top of the system software to perform its tasks, relying on the system software to handle the underlying hardware interactions.

Therefore, the assertion that system software manages hardware while application software performs specific user tasks accurately captures the essence of their respective functions within a computer system. This clear delineation helps users understand how software components interact and the roles they each play in accomplishing overall computing tasks.