Operating systems (OS) Flashcards
What is an operating system?
Software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides services for application programs.
Why do we need operating systems?
Because it manages the computer’s resources and provides an interface for users to interact with the hardware and software.
What are the two main responsibilities of an OS?
1) Managing hardware resources, and 2) Providing a software platform for applications.
What are examples of operating systems?
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
What is a kernel?
The core part of the OS responsible for low-level tasks like memory management, process scheduling, and device control.
What is user mode vs kernel mode?
User mode runs application code with limited access to hardware; kernel mode runs OS code with full hardware access.
What is multitasking in an OS
The ability of an OS to run multiple programs at the same time by sharing CPU time.
What is memory management in an OS?
Managing the allocation and deallocation of memory to processes and ensuring isolation between them.
What is process management?
The OS’s responsibility to create, schedule, and terminate processes.
What is I/O management?
Handling input and output operations between hardware devices and software applications.
What is file system management?
Organizing and storing data on storage devices in a structured manner.
What is the role of system calls in an OS?
Allow user-level applications to request services from the kernel.
What is virtualisation in operating systems?
The creation of virtual machines that allow multiple OSs to run on a single physical machine.
