What is an Operating System?
An Operating System (OS) is a system software that acts as an intermediary between the user of a computer and the computer hardware. Its primary goal is to provide an environment in which a user can execute programs in a convenient and efficient manner.
Without an OS, every computer program would have to include its own code to manage the CPU, memory, and interact with hardware devices like disk drives and network interfaces.
Core Functions of an OS
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Process Management | Creating, scheduling, and terminating processes, as well as managing deadlocks and synchronization. |
| Memory Management | Allocating and deallocating memory space to programs in need of this resource. |
| File Management | Organizing, storing, retrieving, naming, sharing, and protecting files on storage devices. |
| Device Management | Managing device communication via their respective drivers (I/O control). |
The OS as a Resource Allocator
Think of the OS as the manager of a highly complex system. It decides which programs get access to the CPU, how much memory they are allowed to use, and ensures that different programs do not maliciously interfere with each other.