The three overarching domains that encapsulate application software, system software, and hardware layers are: Hardware Layer, System Software Layer, and Application Software Layer.
- Hardware Layer: This is the physical component of a computer system, including the CPU, memory, and storage.
- System Software Layer: This layer includes the operating system and utility programs that manage hardware resources and provide a platform for applications to run.
- Application Software Layer: This consists of programs that perform specific tasks for users, relying on the system software to interact with hardware.
Interaction occurs through layers of abstraction. Hardware provides resources that system software must manage; system software interfaces with hardware to facilitate communication and processing requests from application software. Applications send instructions to system software, which translates them into hardware-specific actions, creating a cohesive computing experience.
Simple Version: The three main domains are Hardware Layer, System Software Layer, and Application Software Layer. The Hardware Layer consists of physical components like the CPU and memory. The System Software Layer includes the operating system that manages these hardware resources. The Application Software Layer is where user-specific programs run. They interact by having applications send requests to system software, which controls the hardware to perform tasks.