(1) Software that is used for business or entertainment. The terms "application," "application program," "software application," "software package" and simply "app" may refer to virtually any type of program from spreadsheets such as Excel to media players such as iTunes. However, the term specifically excludes essential control software such as the operating system (see
system software).
One or Many Files
In the computer, an application can be made up of a single executable file or hundreds of files, which includes additional software modules, configuration files and ancillary data files. See
application program and
application software.
(2) A particular purpose for using technology; for example, "a banking application" or "scientific application." It may also refer to a functional category such as payroll and billing. Combining definition #1 above with this one, it is technically correct to say "this application is used in medical applications."