Operating systems are the software that runs in the background of computers. They manage hardware components such as memory and file-systems as well as keyboards, monitors and printers. It also manages access to the central processing unit, or CPU.
Multitasking is the term used to describe a technique that allows multiple programs to run concurrently on an OS. This is because the OS assigns system resources to a program, such as memory space and CPU during execution. It monitors the amount of memory and CPU time a program consumes and makes sure that it does not interfere with other programs which use the same resources.
Operating systems also monitor the location and status of files on the hard drives of the computer. They create the virtual directory structure and record the location of each file, as well as other metadata such as the date it was created or modified. An OS also makes it easier for an application to connect with the computer’s hardware through drivers. These drivers convert the hardware’s proprietary language into a standard that an operating system can recognize.
When an application wants to save a document it connects to the kernel of the operating system. This is due to the fact that the application cannot directly connect to the drive and requires a driver to communicate with it. The operating system then creates and translates the request for data into a logical operation, and the hardware is then utilized according to the instructions.
