Definition of Operating System

As we all know that the Operating System is a major part of a Computer System, knowing the definition of the Operating System is also an important part of being able to know how to use it. However, if we know the definition of an Operating System, you will be able to better understand what it does in your Computer System so as to make it run and make it easier for you to use it.

Judging from the basic form, the definition of Operating System is: a collection of computer programs responsible for managing the resources of hardware and software in a Computer System. We can also state that the Operating System rationally processes or handles electronic devices in response to approved program commands.

Definition of Operating System

As the basis of all software systems, the Operating System performs the basic tasks of the Computer System such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing requests from the system, controlling input and output devices, facilitating or managing networks, and also manage the file system.

Most Operating Systems have a command line interpreter as a basic user interface, but they can also provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for ease of operation. The Operating System forms a platform for other software systems and for application software.

Operating System Definition

On a more complicated level, the definition of an Operating System will become a little more complex as you explore what the Operating System does inside our computer.

Some basic tasks of the Operating System:

Process Management

Every program running on a computer is a process. In general, the CPU can only run one process at a time. The Operating System will monitor the requested processes and execute them in a pre-designed order that often switches between them very quickly in a way called multi-tasking.

Memory Management

The memory manager of the Operating System coordinates different types of memory usage by tracking which ones are available at any given time. It will also monitor which types of memory can be allocated or allocated and how to move data between memories.

Disk and File System

The way the Operating System reads different types of file systems as well as file storage as in the way files are named. Some Operating Systems read file names as case sensitive, while others ignore this.

Network

In the growing internet age, the network capabilities of the Operating System are very important. Network capabilities can be as good with outside computers as in accessing the Internet or computers to computers as in large mainframe operations. The Operating System will coordinate all of this beneath the surface without the user realizing it is happening.

Security

All Operating Systems are equipped with some type of security that already exists. Since access to a computer and its often-privileged information should be restricted only to authorized users, this aspect of the Operating System may actually be its most important function.

The definition of an Operating System can be simple or it can be more complicated. Whatever it is, knowing how the Operating System runs our computer can be a very important part of responsible computer users.