What is the term for a utility program that is used to make a copy of all the files on a disk?

1. Career development
2. What Is Utility Software? Definition, Types and Benefits

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published January 3, 2022

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Advancements in technology have simplified the way people handle various tasks in their professions. Many professionals rely on different types of software to manage their workloads more efficiently. A computer also relies on its software and hardware components to operate properly and run smoothly. In this article, we discuss utility software and how it works, its uses and benefits and the types used by different computers.

What is utility software?

Utility software includes all systems and programs on a computer system that maintain its functionality. A computer's utility software includes components that assist the operating system to optimize, maintain, organize and manage how it functions in all situations. This type of software also supports the computer's infrastructure, which differs from application software that performs tasks to benefit the user. When performing its functions or being replaced, utility software may require the approval of a user with elevated privileges on the computer.

When manufacturers produce a computer, they typically install an operating system and a set of utility programs that support it. This portion of the utility software is often considered to be part of the operating system, although the user can install other utility programs or replace existing software.

Related: What Is Software Development?

Types of utility software

Some of the most common types of utility software found on computers include:

Antivirus software

Viruses are malicious files that can infect a computer's hardware and software. Antivirus software monitors the files that are coming into the computer's drives to detect the presence of concerning threats. This type of utility software also scans all the files regularly and discards any malicious files that may lurk or cause problems with the computer.

System monitoring software

System monitoring software assesses the performance and resources of a computer system. It runs consistently to make assessments of how the operating system and other infrastructure components work together. It may also make recommendations to improve system performance.

Clipboard management software

Operating systems often allow for the short-term storage and transfer of data between application programs. The utility program that manages this function is known as clipboard management software. If a user copies a section of text from one application, they can paste it into another through the use of this program.

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Debugging software

Debugging programs allow for the modification and examination of data on a disk and in a computer's memory. This type of utility software may run a target program under specific conditions and monitor its operations and changes. Examples of specific conditions for a debugging situation include stopping the function of the program at a certain point or displaying the contents of the program's memory.

Registry cleaning software

If your computer runs Windows as its operating system, it may also include registry cleaning software that optimizes the Windows Registry. This database monitors and stores settings for the operating system and applications that use it. Registry cleaning involves removing any outdated registry keys or data that the computer no longer uses.

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Related: What Are Applications?

Network utility software

The network utility software analyzes the network connectivity of a computer. Connecting to any type of wireless or wired network requires the function of this utility software. It can also analyze the transfer of data, log events that occur while the computer is connected to a network and configure network settings.

Package management software

A package manager helps to configure or install new software on a computer. When you want to install a new or replacement application, the package management software will assess the package of files needed and run the installation process. Package management is also involved in keeping software programs up to date.

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File management software

An important piece of a computer's utility software is its file management program, which manages all the files stored on its drive. Computers store all data in files, so the file management tool allows the user to browse and search the stored files. File management software can also provide an instant preview of a file and make it easier to find the necessary information on the drive. Additional tasks of this program include merging, copying, moving, cataloging, deleting, renaming and generating data sets.

Compression tools

Computers have a set amount of storage space that can store files and programs. When files are particularly large, compression tools can condense the files to smaller sizes to take up less space on the hard drive. Compressing the file can make what's stored inside of it inaccessible. When the user needs to open the file in its original format, the computer's decompression tools perform this function.

Backup utility software

Backup utility software backs up the folders, files and databases on a computer. It often functions by making a copy of the entire disk. If the loss of data occurs, the user may be able to find the lost files or information through the computer's backup utility program.

Disk defragmentation software

Disk defragmentation software detects files that may be split into multiple parts on the disk. It performs searches for related files and can group those files together in one area. This process can clean up the drives to make room for additional files and make it easier for the user to find related files.

Disk space analysis software

When analyzing the available disk space on a computer, the analysis software can visualize the size of each folder and sub-folder. It also shows the size of the files contained in each folder. The visualization outlines where the used and available space exists on the drive.

Uses for utility software

Utility software has many uses and applications. Each type of software handles its own tasks within the operation of the computer. The purpose of utility software is to monitor how the infrastructure of a computer operates and how each program works together to provide smooth and seamless operation. Computer users may apply the functions of utility software differently, depending on how they use their computers.

Benefits of utility software

Computers rely heavily on utility software to manage the operations of their various programs and functions. Some benefits of having this type of software installed on your computer include:

• File and data management**:** Proper storage and management of a computer's files and data allows users to find and access the files they need.

• Storage space management: Managing the amount of storage space available ensures that the computer can continue to run its existing programs and have new programs installed on it. This functionality of the utility software also removes useless or rarely accessed files.

• Enhanced security: Certain functions of the utility software protect the computer from malicious software and threats, improving its security.

• Customization options: You can use specific utility programs to customize the interface and desktop of the computer. This option makes it easier to find and access your files and applications quickly.

• File recovery: In the event of a data loss, the file recovery software can help a user get access to files and applications that they believed to be lost.