24/06/2025, 12:03 What is Operating System?

Explain Types of OS, Features and Examples

What is Operating System? Explain Types of OS,

Features and Examples
By : Nathaniel Brooks Updated August 12, 2024

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

Table of Content:

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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

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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

Windows Phone OS 0.06

RELATED ARTICLES
→ Difference Between RAM and ROM
→ Deadlock in Operating System: What is, Circular Wait (Examples)

→ Memory Management in OS: Contiguous, Swapping, Fragmentation

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→ Shortest Job First (SJF): Preemptive, Non-Preemptive Example

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

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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.

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:

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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.
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7. Security: Security module protects the data and information of a computer

system against malware threat and authorized access.

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

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Advantage of Operating System

Allows you to hide details of hardware by creating an abstraction
Easy to use with a GUI
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

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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
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.

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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
Define Operating System: OS provides
of programming that is embedded on
functionality over and above that
a chip in the device which controls
which is provided by the firmware.
that specific device.

Firmware is programs that been

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

Allow 64 bit of data
Architecture and Allow 32 bit of data processing
processing
Software simultaneously
simultaneously

64-bit applications
32-bit applications require 32-
Compatibility require a 64-bit OS and
bit OS and CPUs.
CPU.

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Parameters 32. Bit 64. Bit

All versions of Windows 8, Windows XP
Systems
Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Professional, Vista, 7,
Available
Windows XP, Linux, etc. Mac OS X and Linux.

64-bit systems allow a

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