What’s Component Software?

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Component software is a separate module that operates independently while communicating with the entire system. It is used in programming applications to ensure stable operation and protect system safety. Individual components offer multiple browsing sessions and increase security in modern internet browsers. Many modern computer operating systems use component software, such as Windows, which allows users to customize it according to their needs.

Component software, sometimes called componentware, refers to a separate module or programming object that operates independently of other components in a system while maintaining communication with the entire system. In the simplest terms, a component is built to provide a specific activity or service. While this type of software engineering is based on object oriented programming, it is considered a separate and more advanced classification called service oriented programming. Individual component modules allow a system to continue running in the event that a single program crashes.

The term component software aptly describes how each of the individual program modules constitutes a component, or part, of the overall system. For example, consider how a car is assembled from many different parts. Some parts are more essential to its functioning than others but overall, if one particular non-critical system, such as the radio, fails, the rest of the car will continue to function. Component software programming is a similar design pattern where multiple parts create a whole system.

This type of software is commonly used in programming applications when a complete system failure could create security issues or be a nuisance. Such applications include order and payment processing software, record keeping software, and even Internet browsers. The individual tasks performed by software of this type are delegated to individual software components. These pieces ensure the stable operation of the entire system while also protecting the safety of the systems, as each component is isolated from the others.

In the case of Internet browsers, individual components can function to offer multiple browsing sessions of the process. For the average user, this means that when five tabs are open and an unauthorized java script causes the site displayed in one tab to be blocked, only that tab is compromised. By closing the tab you can save the rest of the session. This multi-process system also increases security in the modern internet browser because it keeps each process in its own separate space.

Many modern computer operating systems (OS) use component software at least to some extent. An example is the Windows operating system. In this system, users can enable or disable operating system components to customize it according to their needs. Additionally, if a program crashes, safeguards are included to safely terminate the associated process and terminate the program without restarting the computer. This capability has made component software an important part of software engineering.




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