Chapter 2 Operating System Flashcards
What is an operating system?
An operating system is the most important software that runs on a computer, managing the computer’s memory, processes, hardware, and software products, and allowing communication without knowing the computer’s language.
What does an operating system control?
An operating system controls every file, device, section of main memory, and every nanosecond of processing time on a computer.
Name some examples of operating systems.
Examples include MS-DOS, IBM PCDOS, Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh (MacOS), Unix, and Linux.
What is the role of the user interface in an operating system?
The user interface is the portion of the operating system that users interact with directly. It can vary widely between operating systems and can be command driven, menu driven, or graphical.
Describe the main memory management function of an operating system.
Main memory management involves checking the validity of each request for memory space, allocating portions of memory not already in use, and protecting the space occupied by the operating system.
