1.2.1 - Systems Software - Operating Systems
- 20p13280
- Dec 9, 2025
- 3 min read
What do they do?
An operating system is software that manages and provides interfaces to the hardware of the computer system such as hardware management (including memory management, CPU scheduling for time slices). Using this interface it means that applications can run on top of the operating system and handle tasks such as memory management and storing data to secondary storage, as the Operating System provides interfaces for these that will then interact with the hardware itself. Meaning that application developers typically never have to interact with the hardware.
What is a kernel?
The kernel is the low level part of the operating system, it's what handles all low-level tasks like memory management, hardware management, etc. They ensure The kernel is the key part of operating systems and are required for them to run. Examples of popular used kernels are Windows NT and Linux.
Why are they needed?
They are needed to provide a functional space for applications to run on a computer system and for them to interact with the hardware such as memory and secondary storage.
Functions of an operating system
An operating system needs to be able to provide an environment for applications to run, this includes but not limited to:
Memory management
File management
Input and output mangement
Processor time management (scheduling)
Providing the Human Computer Interface (Typically a GUI for most consumer operating systems)
Providing system services (e.g. print spooling)
Error handling
Allowing drivers to run
The operating system will expose these systems to applications developers to use so that they typically don't have to interact with the hardware itself, only interacting with the operating system to use the computer system.
What Operating Systems are avaliable?
There are many types of operating systems, not just the well-known few.
In the table below there are many outlined:
Type | Definition | Example of Use (+Example OS) |
|---|---|---|
Batch OS | Data or programs are collected, grouped and processed at a later date. | Payroll, stock control and billing systems. Example: IBM z/OS |
Interactive OS | Allows the user and the computer to be in direct two-way communication. | Select from a menu at ATM. Example: Windows 7 Emedded |
Real-time OS | Inputs immediately affect the outputs. Timing is critical. | Control of nuclear power plants, air traffic control systems. Example: VxWorks, FreeRTOS |
Network OS | Allow a computer on a network to serve requests from other computers for data and provide access to other resources such as printer and file systems. | Manage simultanious access by multiple users. Example: Windows Server 2025 |
Multiuser OS | Handle many people running their programs on the computer at the same time. | A number of terminals communicating with a central computer which allocates processing time to each terminal in turn. Example: Windows 11, Ubuntu, MacOS |
Multiprogramming OS | Ability to run many programmes aparently at the same time. | Mainframe systems. Each job is allocated a small amount of processing time (time slice) in turn. Example: Windows 11, Ubuntu, MacOS |
Multitasking OS | The ability to hold several programms in RAM at one time but the user switches between them. | Usually uses GUI's. Facilitates import and export of data. Example: Windows 11, Ubuntu, MacOS |
Examples of Operating Systems
Windows 11 (Windows NT)
Windows 10 (Windows NT)
MS-DOS (NT)
Windows Server 2019 (Windows NT)
MacOS (Unix)
Ubuntu (Linux)
Fedora (Linux)
Pop!OS (Linux)
Debian (Linux)
ChromeOS (Linux)
Android (Linux)
Arch (Linux)
Sources
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