An application program (also called a software application or just an application) is software (usually provided by a vendor such as Microsoft, Inc.) that helps a user perform a specific kind of activity, such as word processing, graphic design, plotting data, playing a game, or anything else that can be done on a computer. The major kinds of application are:

• Commercial applications
• Shareware applications
• Freeware applications

Of these, commercial applications, which the user must purchase the right to use, are the most important. Applications for common tasks such as word processing are almost always of this type. The second type, shareware, includes applications usually created by single individuals or small groups of programmers working in their spare time. The user of such an application is on her or his honor to send its creator a small sum of money if they like the product and continue to use...