An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services forcomputer programs. The operating system is a component of the system software in a computer system. Application programs usually require an operating system to function.
Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, printing, and other resources.
For hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation, the operating system acts as an intermediary between programs and the computer hardware,[1][2] although the application code is usually executed directly by the hardware and frequently makes system calls to an OS function or is interrupted by it. Operating systems are found on many devices that contain a computer – from cellular phones and video game consoles to web servers and supercomputers.
Examples of popular desktop operating systems include Apple OS X, Linux and its variants, and Microsoft Windows. So-called mobile operating systemsinclude Android and iOS. Other classes of operating systems, such as real-time (RTOS), also exist.
source wikipediadefination of operating system by computerhope.com
Operating systems
An operating system or OS is a software on the hard drive that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer and software programs would be useless. The picture to the right is an example of Microsoft Windows XP, a popular operating system and what the box may look like if you were to purchase it from a local retail store.
Operating System types
Operating System listing
Troubleshooting
Operating System Q&A
Operating System definitions
Operating System listing
Troubleshooting
Operating System Q&A
Operating System definitions
Operating System types
As computers have progressed and developed, so have the operating systems. Below is a basic list of the types of operating systems and a few examples of operating systems that fall into each of the types. Many computer operating systems will fall into more than one of the below types.
GUI - Short for Graphical User Interface, a GUI operating system contains graphics and icons and is commonly navigated by using a computer mouse. See the GUIdefinition for a complete definition. Examples of GUI operating systems are:
Multi-user - A multi-user operating system allows for multiple users to use the same computer at the same time and different times. See the multi-user definition for a complete definition. Examples of operating systems that would fall into this category are:
Multiprocessing - An operating system capable of supporting and utilizing more than one computer processor. Examples of operating systems that would fall into this category are:
Multitasking - An operating system that is capable of allowing multiple software processes to run at the same time. Examples of operating systems that would fall into this category are:
Multithreading - Operating systems that allow different parts of a software program to run concurrently. Examples of operating systems that would fall into this category are:
Troubleshooting
Common questions and answers to operating systems in general can be found in thebelow operating system question and answers section. All other questions relating to an operating system in particular can be found through its corresponding operating system page link below.
Operating System listing
Below is a listing of many of the different operating systems available today, the dates they were released, the platforms they have been developed for, and who developed them.
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