What is an Operating system ?

What is an Operating system ?

An operating system (OS) is a vital software program that facilitates communication between computer hardware and software. Without an operating system, both the computer and its software applications would be ineffective.

Once loaded into the computer by a boot program, the operating system takes charge of managing all other software programs, known as applications or application programs. These applications rely on the operating system for services, which they request through a defined application programming interface (API). Additionally, users can interact with the operating system via a user interface, which may be a command line or a graphical user interface (GUI).

Key functions of an operating system include:

• In multitasking environments, the OS determines the order in which applications run and allocates time for each before switching to another.
• It manages the distribution of internal memory among various applications.
• It oversees the input and output operations for connected hardware devices, such as hard drives, printers, and communication ports.
• It communicates operational statuses and error messages to applications and users, including system operators.
• It can delegate the management of batch jobs (e.g., printing) to free the initiating application from these tasks.
• For computers capable of parallel processing, the OS can divide programs to run across multiple processors simultaneously.

Examples of popular computer operating systems include:

• Red Hat: A widely used Linux distribution.
• Microsoft Windows: The most prevalent operating system for PCs, compatible with IBM hardware.
• Apple macOS: The exclusive operating system for Apple computers.
• Ubuntu Linux: A popular Linux variant suitable for PCs and IBM-compatible systems.
• Google Android: The operating system designed for Android-compatible smartphones.
• iOS: The operating system powering the Apple iPhone.