What is an operating system?

Question

What is an operating system?

Answer 1

An operating system (OS) is an essential software program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. The OS performs basic tasks, such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking and managing files.



General-purpose computers, including personal computers and mainframes, must have an operating system to run other programs, such as application software. Examples of operating systems for personal computers include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS (and Darwin), Unix, and Linux.



The lowest level of any operating system is its kernel. This is the first layer of software loaded into memory when a system boots or starts up. The kernel provides access to various common core services to all other system and application programs. These services include, but are not limited to: disk access, memory management, task scheduling, and access to other hardware devices.



As well as the kernel, an operating system is often distributed with tools for programs to display and manage a graphical user interface, as well as utility programs for tasks such as managing files and configuring the operating system. They are also often distributed with application software that does not relate directly to the operating system's core function, but which the operating system distributor finds advantageous to supply with the operating system.



The delineation between the operating system and application software is not precise, and is occasionally subject to controversy. A technical perspective can use the Universal Turing machine concept. From commercial or legal points of view, the delineation can depend on the contexts of the interests involved. For example, one of the key questions in the United States v. Microsoft antitrust trial was whether Microsoft's web browser was part of its operating system, or whether it was a separable piece of application software.



Like the term "operating system" itself, the question of what exactly should form the "kernel" is subject to some controversy, with debates over whether things like file systems should be included in the kernel. Various camps advocate microkernels, monolithic kernels, and so on, as compromises.



Operating systems are used on most, but not all, computer systems. The simplest computers, including the smallest embedded systems and many of the first computers did not have operating systems. Instead, they relied on the application programs to manage the minimal hardware themselves, perhaps with the aid of libraries developed for the purpose. Commercially-supplied operating systems are present on virtually all modern devices described as computers, from personal computers to mainframes, as well as mobile computers such as PDAs and mobile phones.

Answer 2

As operating System is an Interface between User and the Computer.

An operating system is an essential software program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. The OS performs basic tasks, such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking and managing files.



General-purpose computers, including personal computers and mainframes, must have an operating system to run other programs, such as application software. Examples of operating systems for personal computers include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS (and Darwin), Unix, and Linux.

Answer 3

An operating system (OS) is an essential software program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. The OS performs basic tasks, such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking and managing files.

Answer 4

a OPERATING SYSTEM is what makesa computer a "computer" without a operating system you would have a hunk-o-junk on your hands... DEF: An operating system (OS) is an essential software program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. The OS performs basic tasks, such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking and managing files.



check the SOURCE for the webaddress for more infomation

Answer 5

An operating system (OS) is an essential software program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. The OS performs basic tasks, such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking and managing files.

Answer 6

this is very clever software that allows you to speak to the computer and tell it what you want it to do. Before operating systems were around, there was very little you could do with a computer. Any information you needed to enter was long-winded and time-consuming - no such thing as clicking on links or icons!

Answer 7

the operating system or O.S is the basic program the drive your computer to work with other devices,pripherals,and also you. the O.S is important and basic user interface program that make computer useful and easy to use . win xp, novell , win98, unix , os2 .... are examples of Os programs

Answer 8

operating system is a media to enable human interaction with the machine.

Answer 9

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The most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

For large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop -- it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the system.



Operating systems can be classified as follows:



multi-user : Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users.

multiprocessing : Supports running a program on more than one CPU.

multitasking : Allows more than one program to run concurrently.

multithreading : Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.

real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time.

Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called application programs, can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you can run. For PCs, the most popular operating systems are DOS, OS/2, and Windows, but others are available, such as Linux.



As a user, you normally interact with the operating system through a set of commands. For example, the DOS operating system contains commands such as COPY and RENAME for copying files and changing the names of files, respectively. The commands are accepted and executed by a part of the operating system called the command processor or command line interpreter. Graphical user interfaces allow you to enter commands by pointing and clicking at objects that appear on the screen.

Answer 10

It's the software that do the interface between the user and the hardware components of the computer , like unix,linux,macOS,windows ...etc

Answer 11

err...u can look it up in google coz i bet it has much info's there...examples of OS are the following, WindowsXP,98,97,95,Linux,etc etc..the one's i mentioned are the pop ones...