1.软件：
顾名思义，软件只是计算机用来执行特定任务并允许用户与计算机交互的一组程序，过程，数据或指令的集合。
2.固件：
顾名思义，固件只是硬件设备上的一种软件程序，可提供对特定硬件的控制，并提供必要的指令，说明设备如何与各种其他计算机硬件进行通信。
软件和固件之间的区别：
| Software | Firmware |
|---|---|
| Software’s are generally set of instructions to instruct computer. | Firmware’s are generally a type of software used to control hardware devices. |
| Various categories of software includes application software, computer programming tools, etc. | There are no such categories of firmware. |
| Types of software includes application software, shareware, system software, etc. | Types of firmware includes BIOS, EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface), etc. |
| Size of software is very big and generally ranges between hundred kilobytes (Kb) to few gigabytes (Gb). | Size of firmware is very small and generally ranges between few kilobytes (Kb). |
| Software’s are usually developed using both low level languages and high level languages such as java. | Firmware’s are usually developed using low level languages. |
| Software’s cannot be a firmware. | Firmware can be a software. |
| Updating of software’s are very easier. | Updating of firmware’s are usually difficult. |
| Software’s are designed for user interaction. | Firmware are not designed for user interaction and are instead hidden on device. |
| Software usually run of CPU and main processors. | Firmware does not run on CPU, instead runs on smaller processors. |
| It can be changed constantly. | It is rarely changed. |
| Features of software includes efficiency, usability, functionality, dependability, etc. | Features of firmware includes perfect rotation counter support, floating point variable, perform all control, etc. |
| It requires more time to create software than firmware. | It requires less time to create firmware than software. |