Operating Systems
The OS manages hardware, files and programs.
About this topic
An operating system (OS) manages hardware and software resources and provides services for programs, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Its jobs include memory management, process scheduling (sharing the CPU), file management, device drivers, security and the user interface (GUI or command line).
The OS lets multiple programs run at the same time and prevents them from interfering with each other. It does this by giving each process its own protected memory space and switching the CPU between processes many times per second, so quickly that everything seems to run at once. Device drivers translate general OS requests into commands a specific printer or graphics card understands.
When you save a document, the application asks the OS, the OS finds free space on the drive through the file system, and the drive driver writes the data. Without an OS every program would have to know how to talk to every piece of hardware. The kernel is the core part that always stays in memory. A common misconception is that the OS and the user interface are the same thing; the visible desktop is only one layer. Keeping your OS updated matters because updates patch security holes.
Key ideas
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
- Memory and process management
- User interface
Quick check
Use cases: where Operating Systems helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Operating Systems before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Operating Systems without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Operating Systems changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Operating Systems in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Computing ideas run phones, search engines, games and the wider internet.
Frequently asked questions
What is Operating Systems?
The OS manages hardware, files and programs.
What will I learn in Operating Systems?
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android. Memory and process management. User interface.
Is Operating Systems part of Computer Science?
Yes. It is one of 80 Computer Science topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Operating Systems lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Operating Systems?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.