← Operating Systems learning pathOperating Systems · Module 1 of 10
What is an operating system?
The OS manages hardware and provides services to programs.
📖 Key ideas
- An OS sits between hardware and applications.
- Functions: process, memory, file, device and security management.
- Examples: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS.
- Kernel is the core; shell/UI is how users interact.
- Types: batch, time-sharing, real-time, distributed, mobile.
💡 Real-life example: The OS is a hotel manager: assigns rooms (memory), schedules staff (CPU), and guards the doors (security).
KernelCore of the OS
ShellInterface to the OS
System callProgram request to the kernel
RTOSReal-Time Operating System