Want to learn Best Operating Systems Notes in 2023? If yes then this article is for you.
Here you will find definitions, Examples, Needs, and types of Operating systems, including DOS (Disk Operating System), Windows Operating System & The Unix Operating System.
Operating System Definition
Operating System (OS) is one of the most valuable programs in a computer system. It is a set of programs that control and monitor computer hardware and serve application software, programmers, and users.
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| Operating System |
The operating system acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware because the user cannot communicate directly with the computer hardware.
Read More: Basic Components of Computer System
What are the 5 Examples of Operating Systems?
- DOS
- Windows
- Unix, Linux
- Solaris
- macOS
What are the Needs of the Operating System?
- The operating system manages tasks and resources. It runs hardware resources, such as a mouse, keyboard, hard disk, monitor, printer, etc. System software is required to run hardware. The system software consists of various applications, for example, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, etc.
- The operating system provides the environment between the application and the hardware resources. When the computer is ON, the operating system will be the first program loaded into its memory. An operating system is an interface between a hardware resource and an application program. The following diagram shows the interface between the hardware and the application.
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| What are the Needs of the Operating System? |
The above diagram shows that the operating system is running hardware and software. It is the input, output, and processing activities in a computer system. It is the flow of information to and from the processor. The operating system sets guidelines for how to handle tasks.
Read More: Best Definition of Computer and Important Characteristics of Computer
Operating Systems Types and Functions
There are different types of operating systems (OS). A few major types are as under:-
1. DOS (Disk Operating System)
MS-DOS is one of the old operating system types before the Windows operating system. MS-DOS is used to perform many jobs such as copying and deleting files. MS-DOS is also used to collect computer programs and helps to run files. MS-DOS also runs hardware devices like keyboards, printers, and modems.
DOS manages files and allocates system resources to meet system requirements. There are two basic types of DOS commands:-
- Executable and System Commands
- Internal and External Commands
2. Windows Operating System
Microsoft Windows is the most popular type of operating system. With the help of Windows, we can turn on the computer just by clicking the mouse buttons, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows XP are different versions of Windows.
Windows is an operating system. It is an extension of the disk. Windows is system software. DOS is required to run the application program. Windows are stored in memory. Application windows and document windows are types of window operating systems. Hence, Windows is an operating system.
It is an extension of the disk operating system. DOS is required to run application programs. DOS must be loaded into memory before Windows can be started.
3. The Unix Operating System
UNIX operating system is having several features that other operating systems exhibit. It runs on almost all hardware and powers the open-source movement. UNIX also places many demands on users. To understand it, you must have a different type of commitment.
UNIX is a gigantic operating system and far ahead of them in sheer power. It has almost everything that an operating system should have, plus some that no other operating system has ever had.
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