The operating system is the program that manages the hardware of computers. It distributes the image source myopendatablog.com/mastering-security-unveiling-the-magic-of-data-room-solutions/ amount of time each program gets to use the CPU and allocates disk storage space and protects the data from unauthorized access. It also provides an interface between hardware and the application programs. It allows the program to communicate with a range of hardware devices like printers, WiFi adapters, and disk drives.
A OS also allows for multiple software processes to run concurrently on the same processor. This is referred to as multitasking. It also permits the user to interact with the computer via the use of a GUI (graphical) or command-line interface. The operating system could be a single program that runs in memory or a collection programs and libraries on the hard drive that are loaded into memory as needed.
Error detection is an additional important aspect of operating systems. The system constantly monitors input and output to detect errors and stop them from causing further problems. It is also responsible for managing network connections and for establishing security protocols to protect against access by unauthorized persons.
The OS also stores driver information for devices in a standardized file format to allow for easy identification. It can also install and configure drivers when the hardware is upgraded. Additionally it can OS can translate user programs from a high-level language to machine code by using a compiler and loader. It can even move data on a disk when it detects the presence of a bad sector.