The Operating System
(Estimated Reading Time: 20 Minutes)
An operating system (OS) is important software that runs on a computer. It manages the computer’s memory and processes, as well as all of its software and hardware. It also allows you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer’s language.
The computer’s operating system (OS) manages all of the software and hardware on the computer. Most of the time, there are several different computer programs running at the same time, and they all need to access your computer’s central processing unit (CPU), memory, and storage. The operating system coordinates all of this to make sure each program gets what it needs.
Operating systems usually come pre-loaded on any computer you buy. Many people choose the computer they buy based on the operating system, but it’s possible to upgrade or even change operating systems. The operating system consists of many smaller programs, stored as system files, which transfer data to and from the disk and transfer data in and out of your computer’s memory. Other functions performed by the operating system include hardware-specific tasks such as checking to see if a key has been pressed on the keyboard and, if it has, displaying the appropriate letter or character on the screen.
Most operating systems use a graphical user interface, or GUI (pronounced goo-ee). A GUI lets you use your mouse to click icons, buttons, and menus. Everything is clearly displayed on the screen using a combination of graphics and text.
Functions of an operating system include:
- Booting
– Booting is the process of turning on the computer and powering up the system. - Memory management
– This is the process of controlling and coordinating the computer applications and allocating space for programs. - Loading and execution
– Your OS will load, or start-up, a program and then execute the program so that it opens and runs. - Data security
– The OS is in charge of keeping data safe inside your computer and computer programs. They set up security features that keep unwanted cyberattackers at bay. - Disk management
– This manages all the drives installed in a computer like hard drives, optical disk drives, and flash drives. Disk management can be used to divide disks, format drives, and more. - Process management
– Your OS has to allocate resources to different processes on the machine, enable the processes to share information, protect them, and synchronize them - Device controlling
– Your OS will allow you to open or block access to devices like removable devices, CD/DVDs, data transfer devices, printers, USBs, and others. - Printing controlling
– Simply put, your OS takes control of the printers that are connected to the computer, and the materials that need to be printed. - User interface
– A user interface or UI refers to the part of the OS that allows a user to enter and receive information. This can be done with typed commands, code, and others.
Common Operating S