Why are apps called apps?

Question

IT terminology

Why are they generally "applied"? to the OS? to the task? to the user?

Answer 1

From the English word application.
And why in the States they began to call programs like that - this is a matter of etymology in English.
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/251653...

Answer 2

Let me tell you right now, this is a theory.
From the word "applied", that is, auxiliary. We won't call the graphics card driver an "application" because it's required for the PC to work, but GeForce Expirience is an application because it helps the user to better set up the PC.