There are six MAJOR characteristics of software:

• Functionality: The things that software is intended to do are CALLED functionality. For example, a calculator's functionality is to perform mathematical operations.
• Efficiency: It is the ability of the software to use the provided resources in the best way possible. Increasing the efficiency of software increases resource utilization and reduces cost.
• Reliability: Reliability is the probability of failure-free operational software in an environment. It is an important characteristic of software.
• Usability: It refers to the user’s experience while using the software. Usability determines the satisfaction of the user.
• Maintainability: The ease with which you can repair, improve, and COMPREHEND software code is REFERRED to as maintainability. After the customer receives the product, a phase in the software development CYCLE called software maintenance begins.
• Portability: It refers to the ease with which the software product can be transferred from one environment to another.

Apart from the above-mentioned characteristics, the software also has the following characteristics:

• Software is engineered, it is not developed or manufactured like hardware. Development is an aspect of the hardware manufacturing process. Manufacturing does not exist in the case of software.
• The software doesn't wear out.
• The software is custom-built.