Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

Operating System (OS) is a software program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. The OS performs basic tasks, such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking, and managing files. The OS may be split into a kernel which is always present and various system programs which use facilities provided by the kernel to perform higher-level house-keeping tasks, often acting as servers in a client-server relationship. Additionally, it provides a foundation upon which to run application software such as word processing programs and web browsers.

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operating system