Windows

Windows may refer to any of the following:

1. Microsoft Windows (also referred to as Windows or Win) is a graphical operating system developed and published by Microsoft. It provides a way to store files, run software, play games, watch videos, and connect to the Internet.

Microsoft Windows was first introduced with version 1.0 on November 10, 1983. Over a dozen versions of Windows were released after that, including the current version, Windows 10.

Editions of Windows

Starting with Windows XP, Microsoft has published various editions of Windows. Each of these Windows editions has the same core operating system, but some editions have additional features, at an additional cost.

The two most common editions of Windows for home computers are Windows Home and Windows Professional.

Windows Home

Windows Home (also called Win Home) is the basic edition of Windows. It provides all the fundamental functions of Windows, such as connecting to the Internet, browsing the web, watching videos, using office software, and playing video games. It is the least expensive edition of Windows, and it comes preinstalled on many new computers.

Windows Pro

Windows Professional (also called Windows Pro, or Win Pro) is an enhanced Windows edition, for power users, and small to medium sized businesses. It includes all the features of Windows Home, plus the following:

• Remote Desktop — allows you to remotely control another Windows computer connected to the Internet.
• Bitlocker — Microsoft’s integrated file encryption.
• Trusted Boot — provides encryption of the boot loader, protecting the computer against rootkits.
• Hyper-V — a Windows hypervisor for running virtual machines, equivalent to third-party software, such as VirtualBox.
• Windows Sandbox — provides a lightweight, sandboxed Windows 10 instance. You can use this isolated «Windows within Windows» environment to safely run suspicious or untrusted software. Windows Sandbox requires a Windows Insider build of Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise.
• Group policy management — Administrators can define group policies, for managing multiple Windows users in a business or organization.
• Support for more than 128 GB of RAM.
• Greater Windows Update installation options, including more flexible scheduling and postponement for up to 35 days.

Business editions

Windows Professional for Workstations and Windows Enterprise provide advanced features for professional studios and large businesses. For more information, refer to the side-by-side comparison in the official Microsoft Windows business edition comparison chart.

Why is Microsoft Windows called Windows?

Before the release of Microsoft Windows, Microsoft users were used to the single task command line operating system MS-DOS. Because Microsoft names most of its products with one word, it needed a word that best described its new GUI operating system. Microsoft chose «Windows» because of the multiple windows that allow different tasks and programs to run at the same time. Because you cannot trademark a common name like «Windows,» it’s officially known as «Microsoft Windows». The first version of Microsoft Windows was version 1.0, released in 1985.

Microsoft Windows help pages

Related pages

2. In general, a window is a fundamental part of a computer GUI (graphical user interface). A window is an area of the display containing a single running application. The window can be moved, resized, hidden, or maximized as desired by the user. The Microsoft Windows operating system is named after this UI element.

3. Regarding Unix-like operating systems, such as Linux or BSD, Windows may refer to the X Window System.

Program

Program may refer to any of the following:

1. As a verb, to program a computer is the writing of statements or commands that instruct the computer how to process data. There are several programming languages used to program a computer.

Related pages

2. As a noun, a program, also called an application or software, is a set of instructions that process input, manipulate data, and output a result. For example, Microsoft Word is a word processing application that allows users to create and write documents. A browser, such as the one you are using to view this page, is an application.

Apps vs. programs

When Apple introduced the iPhone, they popularized the term «app,» but an app (application) and program are the same thing. Today, most people think of an «app» as an application on an Apple computer, smartphone, or tablet. A program is thought of as something that runs on a computer (e.g., a Windows computer).

With all the different ways companies and people use these terms, it’s best to think of an application, app, and program as the same thing. See our app page for further information on mobile apps.

Programs vs. scripts

When a program is created, it’s compiled into a language that the computer can understand. Once compiled, the program does not need any other programs to run as long as the computer has the required operating system and platform. A script is not compiled and needs an interpreter to translate the script into something the computer understands. Without an interpreter, the script cannot run on the computer. However, once installed, a script can run on any platform without needing to be re-written. See our script term for further information and the pros and cons of scripts.

What type of files are program files?

A program file must be an executable file and for software programs running Microsoft Windows end with a file extension of .EXE, .COM, or .PIF. Executing these files runs the program and allows it to be used on the computer. On an Apple Macintosh computer, a program ends with .APP.

Examples of computer programs

There are millions of different programs available for computers, phones, and other devices today. Below are a few examples and the related program category.

If you visit the program category page, you can see other examples of programs of that category.

Program	Program Category
Adobe Acrobat	PDF reader
Adobe After Effects	Video editor
Adobe Dreamweaver	HTML editor
Adobe Photoshop	Photo editor
Audacity	Audio software
Comm Central	Fax/Voice/Phone
FileZilla	FTP
Google Chrome	Internet Browser
Hyper Terminal	Terminal program
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation
Microsoft Word	Word processor
Mozilla Thunderbird	E-mail client
Norton Anti-Virus	Antivirus
C++	Programming language
Skype	Chat and VoIP

• See our software page for information on software that is considered a program and software that is a different category.

What is the purpose of a program?

Without application software (programs), your computer would be able to operate with the operating system (system software), but would not be capable of doing anything else. A program gives the computer and user the ability to perform specific tasks. For example, to browse the Internet, you would install a browser on the computer. A browser is a program that instructs the computer how to visit, display, and navigate a web page. Without a browser program, the computer would not be able to browse the Internet.

What are the basic functions of a program?

The functions of a program vary depending on the type of program. For example, the function of a browser program is to browse the Internet. The function of a word processor is to create, view, and edit documents. A program is usually designed to perform a specific task (function), and only that task. In other words, a word processor program can create a document, but it cannot be used to browse the Internet.

See our program examples for a list of different types of programs and program categories.

Today, with cloud computing and online services, it may be confusing to know how to define a service, such as Google Docs. Google Docs is a word processor, but it primarily runs through the browser and therefore is considered a web-based application, not a program.

Are games programs?

Yes, games are programs, but may be labeled as «games» and not «programs,» to distinguish them as designed for leisure rather than productivity. As a category of programs, games have subcategories of their own, such as FPS, MMO, and RPG. For example, Quake is an «FPS game.»

Is Microsoft Windows a program?

No. All versions of Microsoft Windows are considered an operating system and not a program.

What was the first program?

The first software program that was held in electronic memory was written by Tom Kilburn. The program calculated the highest factor of the integer 2 18 = 262,144, and was successfully executed on June 21, 1948, at the University of Manchester, England. The computer was called the SSEM (Small Scale Experimental Machine), otherwise known as the «Manchester Baby.». This event is widely celebrated as the birth of software.

Related program pages

3. Program is the Swedish translation for the Windows Program Files folder.

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