CompTIA ITF+ Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Resource for Complete Exam Success!

Software is best defined as a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. This definition encapsulates the essence of software, which is fundamentally about the programming that manages computer tasks and operations. Software includes applications, operating systems, and various other programs that enable users to perform specific functions on a computer. Through software, users can interact with hardware components, execute commands, and process data, making it an essential element of computing technology.

In contrast, the other options describe different aspects of computer systems. The concept of a physical component of a computer pertains to hardware rather than software. Resources needed to power a computer refer to the hardware and electrical energy required to operate the machine. Lastly, an output device for displaying information typically refers to hardware peripherals like monitors and printers, rather than the instructions and programs that operate within a computer. This clarity illustrates why the definition of software as a set of instructions is the most accurate description.