What are operating systems, what are they used for and how do they work?

In general, in our daily life we ​​sometimes need a tool to be able to carry out an activity. To perform activities on a computer, mobile phone or other device we need those tools which are an intermediary to carry out any activity. The brain of gadgets; so to speak they are the operating systems.

What are they, what are they for and how does each of these operating systems work? Here we remove you from doubts once and for all.


Operating systems - the vital foundation of any computer system

They can be defined as the main software or the set of programs that processes hardware resources of a computer system. Looking at it from a simple perspective, we identify them as that set of arrangements and programs that allow a computer to function and interact with other programs. Without them, computers simply couldn't do anything.


What are operating systems, what are they used for and how do they work?

Most operating systems are recognized by the acronym OS (Operating System) and are customized by various computer manufacturers.

The set of programs adjacent to the system can control the functioning of the physical component; called Hardware. It also manages the resources offered by the hardware and allows the user to perform tasks in an environment that works more conveniently.

There are two types of components in an operating system: control programs and process programs. In the control ones we get the processor, memory, input / output, data and system managers. While in the process there are translators and service programs. Let's describe in detail what the function of each of them is:

Control programs

They coordinate the operation of your processor. There are ways to find out what kind of processor you have . Control programs also manage memory, input / output operations, information, and the entire system environment. Use the processor manager to prepare programs, schedule the execution time of each process, assign devices, and restart programs. It also uses memory management to allocate and control your computer's internal and external memory.



La gestione degli input/output present in these programs takes care of the work carried out on an external device such as, for example, a printer.

On the other hand, data managers control peripherals, open and close files, control the transfer of information, among other things. The last component, the system manager, protects the memory, corrects system and program errors.

Process programs

I'm the computer assistant for writing applications. Contains translation programs that are responsible for translating a program written in a symbolic language so that the computer can understand its contents. While service or utility programs perform data manipulation functions and operating system maintenance.


What are operating systems, what are they used for and how do they work?

Most common operating systems

We have a desktop or laptop we deal with various types of operating systems widely known in the market: Windows, MacOS, Linux, are the best known. Other existing ones are: Solaris, Unix, Linux Debian… You also have the possibility to install 3 operating systems of your choice on your PC.

Among those we find for phones are: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Blackberry OS, Firefox OS, Symbian OS. There are also operating systems for the rest of the electronic gadgets. Each of these systems is customized as determined by the manufacturer.


Knowing everything about operating systems helps us to be more aware of the IT processes that take place in electronic devices. We hope this information has been useful to you and that you can share it with your favorite acquaintances and friends.

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