What term refers to a collection of programs that a computer executes?

The term that refers to a collection of programs that a computer executes is software. Software encompasses all the programs and applications that run on a computer, including operating systems, utilities, and application software. It is essentially the non-tangible component of a computer that enables it to perform specific tasks or functions.

Software can be categorized into various types, such as system software, which manages the hardware components and provides a platform for running application software, and application software, which performs tasks for the user, like word processing or web browsing. This collection of programs is crucial for the functioning of computers, allowing users to interact with the hardware and perform operations efficiently.

In contrast, hardware refers to the physical components of a computer, firmware is specific software that is closely tied to hardware, often embedded in devices, and a network pertains to the connection of multiple devices for communication and data exchange. Each of these terms describes different aspects of computing and does not capture the concept of executable programs collectively like software does.