Operating System

 Operating System

Ø  An operating system is a type of software without which you cannot operate or run a computer.

Ø  It acts as an intermediary or translation system between computer hardware and application programs installed on the computer.

Ø  The operating system is itself a program or software, it allows users to run other programs or applications on the system.

The common functions of an operating system includes –

•      Process(or) management : The operating system decides which process gets to run, for how long and perhaps at what priority or level of importance.

•      Memory management : Operating system is responsible for keeping track of which parts of the memory are currently being used and by whom.

•      Device management : The operating system allocates the various devices to the processes and initiates the I/O operation. It also controls and schedules accesses to the input/output devices among the processes.

•      File Management : The operating system keeps track of every file in the system, including data files, program files, compilers, and applications. The file system is an operating system module that allows users and programs to create, delete, modify, open, close, and apply other operations to various types of files. It also allows users to give names to files, to organise the files hierarchically into directories, to protect files, and to access those files using the various file operations.

•      Provides user interface: It acts as an interface between the user and the hardware. It can be a GUI where you can see and click elements on the screen to perform various tasks. It enables you to communicate with the computer even without knowing the computer's language.

•      I/O management: It manages the input output devices and makes the I/O process smooth and effective. For example, it receives the input provided by the user through an input device and stores it in the main memory. Then it directs the CPU to process this input and accordingly provides the output through an output device such as a monitor.

•      Security: It has a security module to protect the data or information stored in the memories of the computer against malware and unauthorised access. Thus, it not only manages your data but also helps to protect it.