# Utility software

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{{Short description| Software that supports computer infrastructure}}

'''Utility software''' is [software](/source/software) that supports managing the [computer](/source/computer) [infrastructure](/source/infrastructure) including [computer hardware](/source/computer_hardware), [system software](/source/system_software) and [application software](/source/application_software). Utility software provides for performing tasks as a [system administrator](/source/system_administrator) (that is, as a [user](/source/computer_user) acting in that role). In contrast, application software provides for performing tasks as an [end user](/source/end_user). 

A utility may be a distinct [program](/source/computer_program), or multiple utilities are implemented in a single program. For example, [BusyBox](/source/BusyBox) implements many utilities in a single program. Commonly, a utility provides a [command-line interface](/source/command-line_interface), but some provide a [graphical user interface](/source/graphical_user_interface).

Although an [operating system](/source/operating_system) (OS) installation usually includes utilities (which are considered part of the OS), users often install additional utilities.<ref>{{cite news |title=Non-Opec (advertisement) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIfqFFpyXo8C&pg=PA3 |access-date=May 20, 2019 |agency=Computerworld |date=Sep 3, 1979}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mendelson |first1=Edward |title=Fix What Ails Your PC |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XrdgwdYfGrUC&pg=PA60 |access-date=May 20, 2019 |agency=PC Magazine |date=June 8, 1999}}</ref> The additional utilities may provide a better [user experience](/source/user_experience) or additional functionality.

Often, a user must be authorized for elevated [privileges](/source/Privilege_(computing)) to use a utility since it may affect other users of the system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Linux ifconfig command |url=https://www.computerhope.com/unix/uifconfi.htm |website=Computer Hope |access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref>

==Taxonomy==
This section is a [taxonomy](/source/taxonomy) of kinds of utilities.

===System management===
; [Antivirus](/source/Antivirus_software): Protects the host system from [computer virus](/source/computer_virus)es.
; [Clipboard manager](/source/Clipboard_manager): Expands [clipboard](/source/clipboard_(computing)) functionality.
; [Computer access control](/source/Computer_access_control): Grants or denies requests for access to system resources.
; [Debugger](/source/Debugger): Provides for programming-level control of program execution including the examination and modification of program data.
; [Diagnostic](/source/Diagnostic_program): Determines and reports the operational status of computer hardware and software. For example, a [memory tester](/source/memory_tester).
; [Network](/source/Network_utility): Analyzes the host system's network connectivity, configures network settings, reports data transfer and log events.
; [Package manager](/source/Package_manager): Configures, installs and updates software on the host system.
; [Registry cleaner](/source/Registry_cleaner): Cleans and optimizes the [Windows Registry](/source/Windows_Registry) by removing old registry keys that are no longer in use.
; [System monitor](/source/System_monitor): Monitors resources and performance of the host system.
; [System profiler](/source/System_profiler): Reports information about installed software and hardware.

===Storage device management===
; [Backup](/source/Backup_software): Copies data from a storage device for the purpose of recovering from data loss due to events such as [disk failure](/source/Hard_disk_failure), file corruption or accidental deletion.
; [Disk checker](/source/Disk_checker): Checks a disk for problems.
; [Disk cloning](/source/Disk_cloning): Duplicates the content of a disk.
; [Disk compression](/source/Disk_compression): Transparently [compress/uncompress](/source/data_compression) the content of a disk, increasing the capacity of the disk.
; [Disk defragmenter](/source/Disk_defragmenter): Reorganizes the data of each [file](/source/computer_file) so that it is stored contiguously.
; [Disk formatter](/source/Disk_formatting): 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](/source/Disk_partitioning): Divides an disk into multiple logical drives, each with its own file system which can be mounted by the operating system.
; [Disk space analyzer](/source/Disk_space_analyzer): Visualizes disk space use for each file and directory.
; Tape initializer: Writes a [label](/source/Tape_label) to a [magnetic tape](/source/magnetic_tape) or other magnetic medium.<ref>Initializers for [DECtape](/source/DECtape) format the tape into blocks.</ref>
; [Undelete](/source/Undeletion): Supports recovering files that were deleted.

===File management===
; [Archiver](/source/File_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](/source/Zip_(file_format)). 
; [Cryptographic](/source/Filesystem-level_encryption): Encrypts and decrypts streams and files.
; [Data compression](/source/Data_compression): Outputs a shorter stream or a smaller file when provided with a stream or file.
; [Data conversion](/source/Data_conversion): Transforms data from a source file to some other format, such as from a text file to a [PDF](/source/PDF) document.
; [Data recovery](/source/Data_recovery): Recovers data from corrupted files.
; [Data synchronization](/source/Data_synchronization): Establishes consistency among data from a source to a target data storage and vice versa.
; [Disk cleaner](/source/Disk_cleaner): Deletes files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or take up considerable amounts of space.
; [File comparison](/source/File_comparison): Reports differences between files.
; [File manager](/source/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](/source/File_synchronization): Maintains consistency between two storages for various purposes including redundancy and backup.
; [Revision control](/source/Revision_control): Manages revisions of files.

===Miscellaneous===
; [Data generator](/source/Test_generation): Creates a file of test data according to specified patterns. For example, [IEBDG](/source/Support_programs_for_OS%2F360_and_successors).
; [Hex editor](/source/Hex_editor): Allows for editing the data of a file without regard its format.
; [HTML checker](/source/HTML_checker): Validates [HTML](/source/HTML) code and checks links.
; [Installation](/source/Installation_(computer_programs)) or setup: Initializes or [configures](/source/configure_script) programs, usually applications programs, for use in a specific computer environment. An [uninstaller](/source/uninstaller) does the opposite.
; [Macro recorder](/source/Macro_recorder): Permits use of keyboard macros in programs that do not natively support such a feature.
; [Patching](/source/Patch_(computing)): Modifies files, especially object programs when program source is unavailable.
; [Screensaver](/source/Screensaver): Controls the host [monitor](/source/computer_monitor) with the intention of preventing [phosphor burn-in](/source/phosphor_burn-in) on [CRT](/source/Cathode-ray_tube) and plasma monitors.
; [Sort/Merge program](/source/sorting): Arranges records (usually lines) of a file into a specified sequence.

==See also==
*[Batch file](/source/Batch_file)
*[kdeutils](/source/kdeutils)
*[List of DOS commands](/source/List_of_DOS_commands)
*[List of macOS built-in apps](/source/List_of_macOS_built-in_apps)
*[List of POSIX commands](/source/List_of_POSIX_commands)
*[Shell script](/source/Shell_script)
*[Support programs for OS/360 and successors](/source/Support_programs_for_OS%2F360_and_successors)
*[System software](/source/System_software)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Utility software

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Utility software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_software) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_software?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.