Section: STEM · Computer ScienceDifficulty: Easy

Operating System

USUK

System software that manages hardware resources and provides services to applications.

Also: OS

Definition

An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. It acts as an intermediary between users and the computer hardware, handling tasks such as process scheduling, memory management, file system management, device drivers, and security. Common operating systems include Linux, Windows, and macOS.

Example

“When multiple programs run simultaneously on a computer, the operating system's scheduler rapidly switches CPU time among them, giving the illusion of true parallelism while managing memory to prevent programs from interfering with each other.”

Synonyms

  • OS
  • system software
  • platform software

Antonyms / Opposites

  • application software
  • user software

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Related Terms

  • Process Scheduling
  • Memory Management
  • File System
  • Kernel

Dictionary Entry

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