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When the computer system starts, it has to load an operating system into the main memory. The operating |
| systems consists of programs the control the operations of the application programs. | |
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The part of the operating system that loads and stays in the main memory is called the kernel. The operating |
| system acts as an intermediate level between the application programs and the computer system hardware. | |
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The operating system provides several important functions (Jane Holcombe, and Charles Holcombe, (2012)): |
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User interface: The user interface is the layer the user used to communicate with the operating | |
| system. | ||
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Job management: It is an operating system function that controls the order and time in which programs | |
| are run. | ||
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Task management: It is an operating system function used in multitasking environments. | |
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Memory management: It is an operating system function that manages the placement of programs in | |
| the main memory. | ||
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File management: It is an operating system function that defines how the data is stored as files and | |
| directories on the secondary storage. | ||
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Device management: It is an operating system function that control the I/O devise. |
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Security: The security function of an operating system provides the user authentication before allowing | |
| access to the local computer. |