Utility software is software that supports managing the computer infrastructure including computer hardware, system software and application software. Utility software provides for performing tasks as a system administrator (that is, as a user acting in that role). In contrast, application software provides for performing tasks as an end user.
A utility may be a distinct program, or multiple utilities are implemented in a single program. For example, BusyBox implements many utilities in a single program. Commonly, a utility provides a command-line interface, but some provide a graphical user interface.
Although an operating system (OS) installation usually includes utilities (which are considered part of the OS), users often install additional utilities.[1][2] The additional utilities may provide a better user experience or additional functionality.
Often, a user must be authorized for elevated privileges to use a utility since it may affect other users of the system.[3]
Taxonomy
This section is a taxonomy of kinds of utilities.
System management
- Antivirus
- Protects the host system from computer viruses.
- Clipboard manager
- Expands clipboard functionality.
- Computer access control
- Grants or denies requests for access to system resources.
- Debugger
- Provides for programming-level control of program execution including the examination and modification of program data.
- Diagnostic
- Determines and reports the operational status of computer hardware and software. For example, a memory tester.
- Network
- Analyzes the host system's network connectivity, configures network settings, reports data transfer and log events.
- Package manager
- Configures, installs and updates software on the host system.
- Registry cleaner
- Cleans and optimizes the Windows Registry by removing old registry keys that are no longer in use.
- System monitor
- Monitors resources and performance of the host system.
- System profiler
- Reports information about installed software and hardware.
Storage device management
- Backup
- Copies data from a storage device for the purpose of recovering from data loss due to events such as disk failure, file corruption or accidental deletion.
- Disk checker
- Checks a disk for problems.
- Disk cloning
- Duplicates the content of a disk.
- Disk compression
- Transparently compress/uncompress the content of a disk, increasing the capacity of the disk.
- Disk defragmenter
- Reorganizes the data of each file so that it is stored contiguously.
- Disk formatter
- Writes to a disk so that it can be used for a particular format. Can prepare a disk for initial use or erase the entire disk.
- Disk partitioner
- Divides an disk into multiple logical drives, each with its own file system which can be mounted by the operating system.
- Disk space analyzer
- Visualizes disk space use for each file and directory.
- Tape initializer
- Writes a label to a magnetic tape or other magnetic medium.[4]
- Undelete
- Supports recovering files that were deleted.
File management
- Archiver
- Outputs a stream or a single file when provided with a directory or a set of files. Archive suites may include compression and encryption capabilities. Some archive utilities have a separate un-archive utility for the reverse operation. One nearly universal type of archive file format is the zip file.
- Cryptographic
- Encrypts and decrypts streams and files.
- Data compression
- Outputs a shorter stream or a smaller file when provided with a stream or file.
- Data conversion
- Transforms data from a source file to some other format, such as from a text file to a PDF document.
- Data recovery
- Recovers data from corrupted files.
- Data synchronization
- Establishes consistency among data from a source to a target data storage and vice versa.
- Disk cleaner
- Deletes files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or take up considerable amounts of space.
- File comparison
- Reports differences between files.
- File manager
- Provides an interface for performing file management tasks such as deleting, renaming, cataloging, moving, copying, merging, setting file access, creating and modifying directories.
- File synchronization
- Maintains consistency between two storages for various purposes including redundancy and backup.
- Revision control
- Manages revisions of files.
Miscellaneous
- Data generator
- Creates a file of test data according to specified patterns. For example, IEBDG.
- Hex editor
- Allows for editing the data of a file without regard its format.
- HTML checker
- Validates HTML code and checks links.
- Installation or setup
- Initializes or configures programs, usually applications programs, for use in a specific computer environment. An uninstaller does the opposite.
- Macro recorder
- Permits use of keyboard macros in programs that do not natively support such a feature.
- Patching
- Modifies files, especially object programs when program source is unavailable.
- Screensaver
- Controls the host monitor with the intention of preventing phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma monitors.
- Sort/Merge program
- Arranges records (usually lines) of a file into a specified sequence.
See also
References
- ↑ "Non-Opec (advertisement)". Computerworld. Sep 3, 1979. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ↑ Mendelson, Edward (June 8, 1999). "Fix What Ails Your PC". PC Magazine. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Linux ifconfig command". Computer Hope. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ↑ Initializers for DECtape format the tape into blocks.
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