What is the difference between program and application

Thanks Kris! Great answer! I'll make a post in my blog explaining this. Joy Petrie 38 Points. Joy Petrie Joy Petrie 38 Points.

Exceptional, clear, comprehensive answer, Kristopher Van Sant. Thank you! Thank you so much Joy! And Aimee! So happy that my answer has still been helpful! Omkar Kibe 1, Points. Omkar Kibe Omkar Kibe 1, Points. Photoshop is an application for graphic designers, Vim is an application for developers. Utilities are intended to solve system-specific tasks, e.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery is an utility. From the system administrator's point of view the utilities are applications because the main activity of system administrator is to maintain the system. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. My understanding is this: A computer program is a set of instructions that can be executed on a computer. An application is software that directly helps a user perform tasks. The two intersect, but are not synonymous.

A program with a user-interface is an application, but many programs are not applications. Improve this answer. Andy Thomas Andy Thomas I like this answer because it approaches from the "technical" side -- but can't up-vote for awhile : However, it's important to acknowledge that to most end-users a "program" and an "application" are the same thing.

I generally use the same term "this program sucks" or "you need to install the application on the server" unless there is a reason to separate the terms. From a developer's perspective I don't see a difference between the two. From the user's perspective, though, I can see the difference. An Application is a type of software program that is developed to perform a particular activity on a computer or a device.

Every application is software. The function is directly used, launched, and interacted with by the ultimate user. It is an operating system based program. An app can do one task specifically or some integrated tasks together depending on its development. The tasks performed by an app can be manipulation of numbers, texts, audio, visual graphics, or a combination of them all.

A few of them do only one task, and others integrated can perform various tasks. This software can be of any type or perform many functions such as:. Any computer or hardware or device cannot work without having a software program into it. As such, it is structured to help users complete a given function, task, or activity.

A program, on the other hand, is created to help a computer execute a specific purpose, and it can run on the background without the end-users intervention. Since an app is designed to be utilized by real individuals, it boasts a user interface UI. Since an application can feature several programs, it is usually developed through a structured and documented process that may involve several individuals.

On the other hand, a program can be created by a single individual. But since these essentials are also designed by someone else, it still means that several people will still be involved in the development process. The differences between applications and programs have been blurred for a very long time, and most people have been using them interchangeably.

However, from what we have seen in this article, although apps and programs intersect at some point, they are not synonymous. They are a means to an end, so they need to be treated differently. We live in a dynamic environment where everything is influenced by technology. Nevertheless, we must learn to differentiate terms, whether they have been in existence for decades programs or have emerged due to the changes in technology applications.