Opening and accessing programs on OS X

Programs can be opened and accessed on OS X by clicking either on the Finder icon (lowermost left) and selecting the program or programs you wand to open from the Applications folder, or by clicking on the individual programs icon on the Dock.

Whilst opening a program from the Dock its icon bobs up and down to illustrate that it's opening.

Open programs have a small black triangle below their respective icon on the Dock,
this disappears upon the program or programs being closed. Clicking and holding on the small black triangle below the programs icon opens a contextual menu for that particular program, programs can be Removed from the Dock, Opened at Login, Shown in Finder, Hidden and Quit from this menu.