What are the two categories of system software?

System software primarily consists of the operating system and various utility programs that help manage computer resources and improve system performance. The operating system acts as the primary interface between users and the hardware, managing resources such as memory, processing power, and storage. On the other hand, utilities are specialized programs that perform maintenance tasks, optimize system performance, and provide functions such as virus scanning and file management.

By identifying the correct categories as utilities and operating systems, this answer accurately reflects the fundamental structure of system software. Utilities enhance the functionality of the operating system, but they are not classified as applications, which are typically considered part of application software designed for specific user tasks. Firmware is a type of software stored in hardware devices that controls them, but it is not included in the categories of system software as defined by the most standard frameworks. The distinguishing of system and development as categories does not accurately represent the essential roles of system software. Hence, the choice of utilities and operating systems correctly encapsulates the two major components of system software.