Different programs are used to handle different kinds of information. A set of software tools that allow solving various user tasks for processing different types of information without resorting to programming is called application software.

Application software simplifies the interaction of the computer user with different types of information. Application programs are also called applications.

According to the type of tasks to be solved, application programs are usually divided into two classes:

basic application software;
specialized software.

Basic application software
General-purpose applications are usually referred to this group of software irrespective of a subject area of a solved problem. So, for processing text information, and it doesn’t matter what the text is about, text editors are used.
General-purpose applications are available to almost every computer user. The group of basic application software includes:

text editors – are used to work with text information;
Tabular editors – used for calculations;
database management systems – are a software environment for creating and managing data arrays;
presentation editors – used for designing materials that accompany public speeches;
graphic editors – the main purpose of these programs is creating and editing graphic images;
multimedia players – applications for playing audio and video files.

Usually, software manufacturers release general-purpose programs as a single package in which file contents can be exchanged. For example, Microsoft releases a package of office applications called Microsoft Office that includes the text editor Word, the spreadsheet editor Excel, the database management system Access and the PowerPoint presentation editor.

Specialized application software
The capabilities of specialized application software are limited by the subject area. This class of software is designed for working in various professional fields. Examples of specialized software are:

mathematical packages – programs for performing complex mathematical calculations, such as solving equations, determining integrals, derivatives (MathCad, MathLab);
accounting programs – designed for accounting, tax accounting, cash accounting, payroll (1C accounting);
publishing systems – designed for preparation of printed materials, allows make-up, editing, design of newspapers, magazines, books (Adobe PageMaker)
Computer-aided design systems are used for industrial design of various mechanisms, parts and systems (AutoCad, Compass);
geographic information systems – intended for creation of high-tech geographic and thematic maps;
Expert systems accumulate knowledge of specialists in a certain subject area and help users to make decisions.