What Is an Operating System?

Operating systems are the software that runs in the background of computers. They manage hardware components like memory keyboards, file-systems, file-systems monitors and printers. It also controls access to the central processing unit or CPU.

An OS allows multiple programs to be running simultaneously, which is called multitasking. This is possible because the OS allocates resources from the system such as memory space and CPU time for a program in execution. It keeps track of the program’s use of these resources and ensures that the program doesn’t interfere with other programs using these same resources.

Operating systems also keep track of the locations and status of the files on the hard drives of computers. They create a virtual directories and save metadata, such as the date of creation or modification. An OS also makes it possible for an application to access the hardware of the computer through drivers. These drivers translate the hardware’s proprietary language into a common language that an operating system can understand.

When an image source myopendatablog.com/mastering-security-unveiling-the-magic-of-data-room-solutions/ application wishes to save a document it is switched to the kernel of the operating system. This is because the application cannot directly access the disk drive and needs drivers to communicate with it. The operating system creates a logic request, which it then transforms. Hardware is utilized in accordance with the instructions.

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