What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Software vs Unpacker - What's the difference?

software | unpacker |

In computing terms the difference between software and unpacker

is that software is encoded computer instructions, usually modifiable (unless stored in some form of unalterable memory such as ROM). Compare hardware while unpacker is a software program that decompresses code or data.

software

English

Noun

(-)
  • (computing) Encoded computer instructions, usually modifiable (unless stored in some form of unalterable memory such as ROM). Compare hardware.
  • * 1958 , John W. Tukey, "The Teaching of Concrete Mathematics" in The American Mathematical Monthly , vol. 65, no. 1 (Jan. 1958), pp 1-9:
    • The "software " comprising the carefully planned interpretive routines, compilers, and other aspects of automative programming are at least as important to the modern electronic calculator as its "hardware" of tubes, transistors, wires, tapes and the like.
  • * 1995 , Paul Niquette, Softword: Provenance for the Word ‘Software’ :
    • As originally conceived, the word "software " was merely an obvious way to distinguish a program from the computer itself. A program comprised sequences of changeable instructions each having the power to command the behavior of the permanently crafted machinery, the "hardware."

    Usage notes

    Software'' is a mass noun (''some software'', ''a piece of software''). By non-native speakers it is sometimes erroneously treated as a countable noun (''a software'', ''some softwares ).

    Hyponyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * * * * * * * *

    Related terms

    * adware * bloatware * firmware * freeware * hardware * malware * schlockware * shareware * spyware * vaporware * wetware

    See also

    * application * assembly * assembler * bug * code * coding * compilation * compiler * debugging * interpreter * linking * linker * open source * patch * programming * script * utilities * warez

    References

    ----

    unpacker

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who, or that which, unpacks.
  • * 1977 , House & Garden (volume 149, page 168)
    • One great advantage of professional unpacking is that the unpackers take away all the wrapping and cartons
  • (computing) A software program that decompresses code or data.
  • * 2007 , David Harley, AVIEN malware defense guide for the Enterprise (page 408)
    • All packed malware consists of the unpacker code and packed data, which typically look like random data. The benefit of packed malware, from a malicious author's point of view, is that it cannot be analyzed until it is properly unpacked.