Software is vast. There are many types, and there are many ways in which it is used.
Software is virtual. It is the execution of a series of instructions. When you were asked 'What's going on inside your computer?' you were reminded that software has a context. It is supported by hardware and it supports content like business data, for example. When you were asked 'What is Information Technology?' software was likened to the intelligence of the human brain. So it shouldn't be surprising to know that software shares some common traits with language, which, arguably, programs our brains to think.
Wikipedia keeps it simple saying:
Computer software (or simply software) is essentially a computer program encoded in such a fashion that the program (the instruction set) contents can be changed with minimal effort. Computer software can have various functions such as controlling hardware, performing computations, communication with other software, human interaction, etc; all of which are prescribed in the program.
But that's just a start. Software is vast. As computing and communications has evolved, so has software. Where before a typical software program was built for a specific function to run a specific computer in isolation, now the software programs that make up a specific application are often multi-purpose and distributed. This means that their parts are modular and each "module" could be on different computers. They are linked together, often in real time, not unlike the way in which web pages are linked together to create a broader message. Already you can see how thinking about software can become quite complex!
You'll remember that In addition to managing your personal computer and building web sites, software is used to manage business functions, manage data, and all kinds of other things. One of its' less obvious roles (to some) is to manage itself --as in software which helps, fixes, governs, or operates other software. In fact there are many different types of software designed to do many different things. Understanding the various types, or classes, software is one of the major themes of the second-half of this course.
Thinking about Software
One of the challenges to this course, and to all thinking in the Networking Age, is thinking in the abstract.
Conceptual techniques which classify software by function or by layer, for example, help us to visualize, from a given perspective, the purpose and behaviour of a software system. Be sure to know, however, that these techniques, like all conceptual models are abstract --simplified so that that which is unnecessary or irrelevant does not confuse or confound us in our task at hand. If we were to address a new problem we might look at the same software application with a different set of conceptual models, or a more detailed set, providing new perspectives which serve to illustrate that problem.
Thinking about software is where we're going next.
Software is, indeed, intangible. It is information that can be executed to bring life to a computer system.
"The programs, routines, and symbolic languages that control the functioning of the hardware and direct its operation."
This isn't bad....but then again software controls the functioning of other software and it processes human interactions as well.
Software can have a very complex definition but essentially it is simply a bunch of instructions or algorithms that tells the hardware what to do. At least as far as i know that’s what software is, but there is such a broad spectrum if different types of software and applications it would be difficult to give one general definition.
As a one liner we can say that its something soft that you usually ware or something soft which wares you down

Actually software is written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory.

Basically, software is a program, written by a programmer which controls/operates specific parts of your computer, or specific application.

Some examples are Microsoft Word, MSN Messenger... all the non-physical things.

Computer software (or simply software) is that part of a computer system that consists of encoded information (or computer instructions), as opposed to the physical computer equipment (hardware) which is used to store and process this information. The term is roughly synonymous with computer program but is more generic in scope.

Lots of differing software.

Operating systems are specific software that communicates directly with the hardware inside your PC. (Windows XP, Mac OSX, Linux etc...)

Then there is application software which communicates with the operating software to perform calculations. (Microsoft Office, Games, Browsers (IE, Mozilla)) and many more.

Software, mainly, is a type of program you can install into your computer used for entertainment, office work, and more.