Operating System

An operating system (OS) is software that manages and controls resources while also providing common functions for computer programmes. Time-sharing operating systems plan activities to make the most of the systems resources. They may also contain accounting software for cost allocation of processor time storage printing and other resources. Although the application code is usually executed directly by the hardware and frequently makes system calls to an OS function or is interrupted by it the operating system acts as an intermediary between programmes and the computer hardware for hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation. Operating systems may be found on a variety of computer-based devices ranging from mobile phones and video game consoles to web servers and supercomputers.