Operating System
An Operating System is the system software, which provides an interface between Hardware and User. It makes the Computer run easily and work easily, It makes a friendly environment for users to interact with the system.
The Operating System operates the whole system. It manages the hardware devices to run properly like CPU, RAM, I/O devices, and many other hardware components in a computer.
It controls all the hardware devices and components to make it easy for the user to interact with the computer.
The above diagram shows how hardware devices like(CPU, RAM, MOTHERBOARD, etc) are connected to each other at the same place and are used by different users through applications. Only after installing the operating system, you can use the devices and applications on it, you can also use it without an operating system but this is very hard to operate, and have to write programs in a programming language and not everyone knows the programming language
As Hardware is not directly connected to the user, as shown in the figure there is a System Software Operating System connected to it, and with the help of the Operating System user is able to use various hardware devices like Input/output and many others.
It’s only because of the Operating system we are able to run all the applications and hardware devices both at the same time period. The operating system just gives an interface to hardware devices and the users using it.
So, the Operating System performs as an interface between Hardware devices and Users.
Operating System not only provides an interface between hardware and users, but it also manages all the files, memory, and processes.
If there Is No Operating System, How will the Computer start?
Every process needs hardware and software both for execution and End-users do not use hardware directly to access any software or to complete any task. Because for every task there is a need for hardware and software both. Both are necessary for users to interact with each other. The operating system acts as an interface between hardware and the user.
So, what if there is no operating system, For every task or process we have to write a program or we can say that we have to code for that task.
The only way of accessing the hardware without an operating system is to write a program for the hardware we want to access.
For example: If we have a text file or any other file which we want to print but there is no operating system, for this we have to write a program to access the printer and this process is too long and very complex. Not everyone is a programmer or a codder. so how will you access that particular hardware, that’s why there is a need for an interface to access hardware for users which is the Operating System.
Your computer will start but it will just be a box without an Operating System because OS provides an interface for hardware and users. You will not be able to communicate with one another because it doesn’t know how to communicate without an Operating System.
Also read: Functions of Operating System
Operating System Manages Hardware devices like.
- Input-Output devices: Mouse, Keyboard, Microphone, etc.
- Network devices: Modem, Router, Switches, Bridges, etc.
- Storage devices: Pendrive, hard disk, CD/DVD, etc.
- Output devices: Monitor, Printer, Scanner. etc.
- Motherboard
- RAM
- CPU
You can also read this: What is Software? Why we need Software?
Basic Functions Of Operating System
- Security
- Error Detection
- File Management
- Device Management
- Memory Management
- Process Management
- Secure From Deadlock Conditions
- Coordination between Hardware and users
You can also read these topics:
Functions of the Operating System?