What is the function of an operating system

Operating System is an interface between the user and the hardware and enables the interaction of a computer’s hardware and software.

Also, an operating system is a software which performs all the basic tasks like file management, memory management, storage management, process management, handling input and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

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Operating System acts as mastermind performing a multitude of operations and providing required output.

Operating System Functions –

All  Operating system functions are shared below –

1. DEVICE MANAGEMENT –

Operating System manages device communication via their respective drivers.

It does the following activities for device management −

• Keeps tracks of all devices. I/O controller is responsible for this task
• Decides which process gets the device when and for how much time.
• Allocates the device in an efficient way.
• De-allocates devices.

2. FILE MANAGEMENT –

The operating system allocates and de-allocates resources. It regulates which process gets the file and for what duration. Also, it keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc.

The collective facilities are often known as a file system. OS also performs tasks like creating directories and files, copying/moving them and renaming/deleting files.

3. MEMORY MANAGEMENT –

Memory management refers to the management of primary or main memory. Main memory provides fast storage which can be accessed directly by CPU.

When the program is executed and finished, the memory area is freed which can be used for other programs. Computer memory is arranged such that fastest registers come 1st followed by the CPU cache, random access memory, and then disk storage.

The operating system’s memory manager coordinates the use of various types of memory, which is to be allocated or de-allocated and how to move data between them

4. PROCESS MANAGEMENT –

Every program running on a computer is a process whether it is in the background or in frontend. The operating system is responsible for making multiple tasks to run at the same time (multitasking).

Operating system finds the status of processor and processes, chooses job and its processor allocates processor to process and de-allocates process when it’s executed.

5. MASTERMIND –

Mastermind is one term we can rightfully use for Operating system. Reason – Operating system performs a multitude of functions which only can be performed by super-intelligent mind hence the term “Mastermind”.

• OS provides Booting without an Operating System
• Provides Facility to increase the Logical Memory of the Computer System by using the Physical Memory of the Computer System.
• OS controls the Errors that have been Occurred into the Program
• Provides Recovery of the System when the System gets Damaged.
• Operating System breaks the large program into the Smaller Programs those are also called as the threads. And execute those threads one by one

6. STORAGE MANAGEMENT –

Operating System controls all Storage Operations. Some of these include – how to store data or files into the computers and how users will access the files. The operating system is Responsible for Storing and Accessing the Files. Creation of Files, Creation of Directories and Reading and Writing the data of Files and Directories and also Copy the contents of the Files and the Directories from One Place to Another Place.

An operating system is a program that acts as a user-computer GUI (Graphical user interface). It controls the execution of all types of applications.

The operating system performs the following functions in a device.

1. Instruction
2. Input/output Management
3. Memory Management
4. File Management
5. Processor Management
6. Job Priority
7. Special Control Program
8. Scheduling of resources and jobs
9. Security
10. Monitoring activities
11. Job accounting

Instruction: The operating system establishes a mutual understanding between the various instructions given by the user.

Input/output Management: What output will come from the input given by the user, the operating system runs this program. This management involves coordinating various input and output devices. It assigns the functions of those devices where one or more applications are executed.

Memory Management: The operating system handles the responsibility of storing any data, system programs, and user programs in memory. This function of the operating system is called memory management.

File Management: The operating system is helpful in making changes in the stored files and in replacing them. It also plays an important role in transferring various files to a device.

Processor Management: The processor is the execution of a program that accomplishes the specified work in that program. It can be defined as an execution unit where a program runs.

Job Priority: The work of job priority is creation and promotion. It determines what action should be done first in a computer system.

Special Control Program: The operating systems make automatic changes to the task through specific control programs. These programs are called Special Control Program.

Scheduling of resources and jobs: The operating system prepares the list of tasks to be performed for the device of the computer system. The operating system decides which device to use for which task. This action becomes complicated when multiple tasks are to be performed simultaneously in a computer system. The scheduling programs of the operating system determine the order in which tasks are completed. It performs these tasks based on the priority of performing the tasks given by the user. It makes the tasks available based on the priority of the device.

Security: Computer security is a very important aspect of any operating system. The reliability of an operating system is determined by how much better security it provides us. Modern operating systems use a firewall for security. A firewall is a security system that monitors every activity happening in the computer and blocks that activity in case of any threat.

Monitoring activities: The operating system takes care of the activities of the computer system during various processes. This aborts the program if there are errors. The operating system sends instant messages to the user for any unexpected error in the input/output device. It also provides security to the system when the operating system is used in systems operated by multiple users. So that illegal users cannot get data from the system.

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