Scribd
Upload
8 views2 pages

Operating System Functionalities

An Operating System (OS) serves as an intermediary between users and computer hardware, managing resources and ensuring that applications run efficiently without interference. Key functionalities include resource management, process management, storage management, memory management, and security management. The OS is essential for facilitating user interaction with hardware and maintaining system integrity.

Uploaded by

himanshukhare450
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views2 pages

Operating System Functionalities

An Operating System (OS) serves as an intermediary between users and computer hardware, managing resources and ensuring that applications run efficiently without interference. Key functionalities include resource management, process management, storage management, memory management, and security management. The OS is essential for facilitating user interaction with hardware and maintaining system integrity.

Uploaded by

himanshukhare450
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Operating System and Its Functionalities

An Operating System (OS) acts as an intermediary between the user and computer hardware. In simple

terms, it is an interface that allows users to interact with the computer hardware in a convenient and efficient

way.

It is a system software that manages the computer's hardware resources and provides services for

application software. The OS ensures that user programs execute properly without interfering with each other

or with the system.

The operating system is always running on the computer, while all other programs, including application

software, run on top of it. It is responsible for assigning resources like memory, CPU time, and input/output

(I/O) devices fairly and securely to various processes.

Key Functionalities of the Operating System

1. Resource Management

- The OS acts as a resource manager by allocating hardware resources (CPU, memory, I/O devices) to

various processes.

- It reduces system load by efficiently managing and sharing resources.

- Ensures fair usage and prevents conflicts between processes requesting the same resources.

2. Process Management

- Handles process creation, scheduling, and termination.

- Uses CPU scheduling algorithms to allocate CPU time fairly.

- Ensures process synchronization for communication between processes.

- Prevents issues like race conditions, where multiple processes update the same data incorrectly.

3. Storage Management

- Manages secondary storage (like Hard Disk Drives) through a file system.

- Common file systems: NIFS, CIFS, CFS, NFS, etc.

- Organizes data into tracks and sectors, and maintains data integrity and efficient access through the

storage manager.
4. Memory Management

- Handles primary memory (RAM) allocation and deallocation to processes.

- Keeps track of memory usage- which part is used, by whom, and how much.

- Decides which processes to allocate memory and when to reclaim it.

5. Security and Privacy Management

- Ensures that unauthorized access to programs and data is prevented.

- Provides authentication mechanisms like passwords and encryption.

- Example: Windows uses Kerberos authentication to enhance data security.

Conclusion

The Operating System plays a critical role in managing system resources, ensuring security, and allowing

smooth interaction between the user and hardware. Without it, using a computer efficiently would not be

possible.

You might also like