Utility

From WikiMac, Everyone's Mac Knowledgebase

Utilities (singular: utility) are computer programmes which, unlike application programmes, do not assist you in productivity as a primary purpose. They exist to accomplish tasks one would never do if a computer was never used.

Examples of utilities include:

• Backup programmes, such as Retrospect and Apple Backup. These utilities help you make a safe, backup copy of one or more documents or folders.

• Document undeleters, such as Norton Undelete, which can help you get some files you deleted back.

• Volume repair programmes, such as Disk First Aid and DiskWarrior, which fix broken or ailing volumes, such as diskettes and hard drives.

Mac OS X includes approximately 20 utilities in Applications > Utilities (Utilities folder). As of Mac OS X 10.3, users can press command-shift-U in the Finder to access them.