Back to Blog
What Is an Operating System?
Admin
Computing Fundamentals

What Is an Operating System?

Every time you use a computer, smartphone, or tablet, you're interacting with its operating system (OS). In simple terms, the OS is the master program that manages all the other software and hardware on your device.

Think of the OS as the general manager of a busy company. It doesn't do every job itself, but it makes sure all the employees (your apps) and equipment (your hardware) can work together effectively.

Core Jobs of an Operating System

An OS handles several critical tasks that you never see:

  1. Hardware Management: The OS is the bridge between your software and your physical hardware (like the CPU, memory, and printer). When you click "Print," your word processor tells the OS, and the OS handles the technical process of sending the data to the printer.

  2. File & Folder Management: The OS creates the file system—the structure of folders and files you use to organize your documents. It keeps track of where everything is stored so you can find it later.

  3. Application Management: The OS controls how your applications (apps) run. It gives them memory (RAM) to use, decides which app gets to use the CPU at any given moment, and allows you to run multiple apps side-by-side without them crashing into each other (this is called multitasking).

  4. User Interface (UI): The OS provides the visual environment you interact with. This includes the desktop, icons, menus, and windows that allow you to use the computer easily without needing to type complex code.

Common Operating Systems

You interact with an OS every day. The most common ones are:

  • Microsoft Windows: The most popular OS for desktop and laptop PCs.
  • Apple macOS: The operating system for Apple's Mac computers.
  • Linux: A powerful, open-source OS often used on servers and by programmers.
  • Google Android: The most popular OS for smartphones and tablets.
  • Apple iOS: The operating system that runs on iPhones and iPads.

Without an operating system, your computer or phone would just be a collection of electronic parts with no way to work together.