1/14/22, 1:04 PM What is Operating System?

Explain Types of OS, Features and Examples

What is Operating System? Explain Types of OS,

Features and Examples
By Lawrence Williams Updated December 3, 2021

What is an Operating
System?
An Operating System (OS) is a software that
acts as an interface between computer
hardware components and the user. Every
computer system must have at least one
operating system to run other programs.
Applications like Browsers, MS Office,
Notepad Games, etc., need some
environment to run and perform its tasks.
The OS helps you to communicate with the
computer without knowing how to speak the computer’s language. It is not possible for the
user to use any computer or mobile device without having an operating system.

Introduction to Operating System

In this OS tutorial, you will learn:

What is an Operating System?
History Of OS
Examples of Operating System with Market Share
Types of Operating System (OS)
Functions of Operating System
Features of Operating System (OS)
Advantage of Operating System
Disadvantages of Operating System
What is Kernel in Operating System?
Features of Kernel
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Types of Kernel
Difference between Firmware and Operating System
Difference between 32-Bit and 64-Bit Operating System

History Of OS
Operating systems were first developed in the late 1950s to manage tape storage
The General Motors Research Lab implemented the first OS in the early 1950s for
their IBM 701
In the mid-1960s, operating systems started to use disks
In the late 1960s, the first version of the Unix OS was developed
The first OS built by Microsoft was DOS. It was built in 1981 by purchasing the 86-
DOS software from a Seattle company
The present-day popular OS Windows first came to existence in 1985 when a GUI
was created and paired with MS-DOS.
Examples of Operating System with Market Share

Market Share of Operating Systems

Following are the Operating System examples with the latest Market Share
OS Name Share

Windows 40.34

Android 37.95

iOS 15.44

Mac OS 4.34

Linux 0.95

Chrome OS 0.14
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Windows Phone OS 0.06

Types of Operating System (OS)

Following are the popular types of OS (Operating System):
Batch Operating System
Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
Multiprocessing OS
Real Time OS
Distributed OS
Network OS
Mobile OS
Batch Operating System
Some computer processes are very lengthy and time-consuming. To speed the same
process, a job with a similar type of needs are batched together and run as a group.
The user of a batch operating system never directly interacts with the computer. In this
type of OS, every user prepares his or her job on an offline device like a punch card and
submit it to the computer operator.
Multi-Tasking/Time-sharing Operating systems
Time-sharing operating system enables people located at a different terminal(shell) to use
a single computer system at the same time. The processor time (CPU) which is shared
among multiple users is termed as time sharing.
Real time OS
A real time operating system time interval to process and respond to inputs is very small.
Examples: Military Software Systems, Space Software Systems are the Real time OS
example.
Distributed Operating System
Distributed systems use many processors located in different machines to provide very fast
computation to its users.
Network Operating System
Network Operating System runs on a server. It provides the capability to serve to manage
data, user, groups, security, application, and other networking functions.
Mobile OS
Mobile operating systems are those OS which is especially that are designed to power
smartphones, tablets, and wearables devices.

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Some most famous mobile operating systems are Android and iOS, but others include
BlackBerry, Web, and watchOS.

Functions of Operating System

Some typical operating system functions may include managing memory, files, processes,
I/O system & devices, security, etc.
Below are the main functions of Operating System:

Functions of Operating System

In an operating system software performs each of the function:
1. Process management: Process management helps OS to create and delete
processes. It also provides mechanisms for synchronization and communication
among processes.
2. Memory management: Memory management module performs the task of allocation
and de-allocation of memory space to programs in need of this resources.
3. File management: It manages all the file-related activities such as organization
storage, retrieval, naming, sharing, and protection of files.
4. Device Management: Device management keeps tracks of all devices. This module
also responsible for this task is known as the I/O controller. It also performs the task of
allocation and de-allocation of the devices.
5. I/O System Management: One of the main objects of any OS is to hide the
peculiarities of that hardware devices from the user.
6. Secondary-Storage Management: Systems have several levels of storage which
includes primary storage, secondary storage, and cache storage. Instructions and
data must be stored in primary storage or cache so that a running program can
reference it.
7. Security: Security module protects the data and information of a computer system
against malware threat and authorized access.
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8. Command interpretation: This module is interpreting commands given by the and

acting system resources to process that commands.
9. Networking: A distributed system is a group of processors which do not share
memory, hardware devices, or a clock. The processors communicate with one another
through the network.
10. Job accounting: Keeping track of time & resource used by various job and users.

11. Communication management: Coordination and assignment of compilers,

interpreters, and another software resource of the various users of the computer
systems.
Features of Operating System (OS)
Here is a list important features of OS:

Protected and supervisor mode

Allows disk access and file systems Device drivers Networking Security
Program Execution
Memory management Virtual Memory Multitasking
Handling I/O operations
Manipulation of the file system
Error Detection and handling
Resource allocation
Information and Resource Protection

Advantage of Operating System

Allows you to hide details of hardware by creating an abstraction
Easy to use with a GUI
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Offers an environment in which a user may execute programs/applications

The operating system must make sure that the computer system convenient to use
Operating System acts as an intermediary among applications and the hardware
components
It provides the computer system resources with easy to use format
Acts as an intermediator between all hardware’s and software’s of the system
Disadvantages of Operating System
If any issue occurs in OS, you may lose all the contents which have been stored in
your system
Operating system’s software is quite expensive for small size organization which adds
burden on them. Example Windows
It is never entirely secure as a threat can occur at any time
What is Kernel in Operating System?
The kernel is the central component of a computer operating systems. The only job
performed by the kernel is to the manage the communication between the software and
the hardware. A Kernel is at the nucleus of a computer. It makes the communication
between the hardware and software possible. While the Kernel is the innermost part of an
operating system, a shell is the outermost one.

Introduction to Kernel
Features of Kernel
Low-level scheduling of processes
Inter-process communication
Process synchronization
Context switching
Types of Kernel

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There are many types of kernels that exists, but among them, the two most popular
kernels are:
1. Monolithic
A monolithic kernel is a single code or block of the program. It provides all the required
services offered by the operating system. It is a simplistic design which creates a distinct
communication layer between the hardware and software.
2. Microkernels
Microkernel manages all system resources. In this type of kernel, services are
implemented in different address space. The user services are stored in user address
space, and kernel services are stored under kernel address space. So, it helps to reduce
the size of both the kernel and operating system.
Difference between Firmware and Operating System
Below are the Key Differences between Firmware and Operating System:
Firmware Operating System

Define Firmware: Firmware is one kind of Define Operating System: OS provides

programming that is embedded on a chip in the functionality over and above that which is
device which controls that specific device. provided by the firmware.

Firmware is programs that been encoded by the

OS is a program that can be installed by
manufacture of the IC or something and cannot be
the user and can be changed.
changed.

It is stored on non-volatile memory. OS is stored on the hard drive.

Difference between 32-Bit and 64-Bit Operating System

Below are the Key Differences between 32-Bit and 64-Bit Operating System:
Parameters 32. Bit 64. Bit

Architecture Allow 32 bit of data processing Allow 64 bit of data processing

and Software simultaneously simultaneously

32-bit applications require 32-bit OS and 64-bit applications require a

Compatibility
CPUs. 64-bit OS and CPU.

Systems All versions of Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP Professional,

Available Windows Vista, and Windows XP, Linux, etc. Vista, 7, Mac OS X and Linux.

64-bit systems allow a

Memory
32-bit systems are limited to 3.2 GB of RAM. maximum 17 Billion GB of
Limits
RAM.

Summary
What is OS (Operating System definition) and its Types: An operating system is a
software which acts as an interface between the end user and computer hardware.
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Different categories of Operating System in computer and other devices are: Batch
Operating System, Multitasking/Time Sharing OS, Multiprocessing OS, Real Time OS,
Distributed OS, Network OS & Mobile OS
Personal Computer Operating Systems were first developed in the late 1950s to
manage tape storage
Explain Operating System working: OS works as an intermediate between the user
and computer. It helps the user to communicate with the computer without knowing
how to speak the computer’s language.
The kernel is the central component of a computer operating systems. The only job
performed by the kernel is to the manage the communication between the software
and the hardware
Two most popular kernels are Monolithic and MicroKernels
Process, Device, File, I/O, Secondary-Storage, Memory management are various
functions of an Operating System

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