Describe the functions of an Operating System.
Describe the functions of an Operating System.
Ans.
Operating Systems
An operating system is an integrated system of programs that manages the operations of the CPU, controls the input/output and storage resources and activities of the computer system and provides various support to execute the application programs.
The primary purpose of an operating system is to maximize the productivity of a computer system by operating it in the most efficient manner. It helps application programs perform common operations such as accessing a network, entering data, saving and retrieving files and printing or displaying output. Operating systems are the most indispensable components of the software interface between users and the hardware of their computer systems.
Functions of an operating system:
An operating system performs five basic functions in the operation of a computer system: as shown in figure.
1. The User Interface: The user interface is the part of the operating system that allows a user to communicate with it to load program, access files and accomplish other tasks. There main types of user interfaces are the command-drive, menu-driven and graphical user interfaces. Most software provides an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) that uses icons, bars, buttons, boxes, and other images.
2. Resource Management: An operating system uses a variety of resources management programs to manage the hardware and networking resources of a computer system, including its CPU, memory, secondary storage devices, telecommunications processors, and input/output peripherals. For example, memory management programs keep track of where data and programs are stored. They may also subdivided memory into a number of sections and swap parts of programs and data between memory and magnetic disks or other secondary storage devices.
3. File Management: An operating system contains file management programs that control the creation, deletion and access of files of data and programs. File management also involves keeping track of the physical location of files on magnetic disks and other secondary storage devices.
4. Task Management: The task management programs age the accomplishment of the computing tasks of end users. Task management may involve a multitasking capability where several computing tasks can occur at the same time. Multitasking may take the form of multiprogramming, where the CPU and process the task of several programs at the same time, or timesharing, where the computing tasks of several users can be processed at the same time.
