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The software files you'll find available for downloading to your computer on the Web mostly fall into one of these three types.

Demoware/Trial - A commercial product the manufacturer has made available to those who want to try the program out before they buy it. It usually is accompanied by a timing mechanism that prohibits the program from working after a set amount of time. Some demos will have important features locked out and unavailable for you to use, like the ability to save a file you create with the demo.

Shareware - A fully functional software program the developer places on the Internet for you to download and use to see if you like it. If you find that you do indeed like the program, and you continue to use it past the trial period ( usually 30 days) you are morally obligated to "buy" it. You purchase the program by submitting the registration fee imposed by the author.

Freeware - A full-blown product the author is simply giving away. For instance, Internet Explorer, Microsoft's Web browser program is freeware -- Microsoft lets anyone who wants it to download it free of charge.