What does software refer to?

Software refers to the collection of digital applications, programs, and operating systems that enable users to perform specific tasks on a computer or electronic device. This encompasses a wide range of applications, from productivity tools like word processors and spreadsheets to games and specialized software for graphic design or data analysis. Operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, or Linux, are a fundamental type of software, as they manage the hardware and provide an environment in which other software can run.

The other options mentioned refer to different concepts. Physical components of a computer represent hardware, which is the tangible parts of a computer system. Email clients and web browsers are indeed specific types of software, but they are just examples of the broader category of software rather than a definition. Storage systems and servers relate more to hardware and network infrastructure, focusing on the physical devices and technologies used to store and manage data rather than the programs that run on them.