What is an Operating System?

Operating System

• It is an example of system software.
• It is used to provide a platform for the proper execution of different application software.
• In our computer system the applications software cannot interact with the computer directly i.e, it can't access the hardware directly. So, operating system is required between application software and the hardware for the proper working.

An operating system basically provides two types of environment:-

1. CUI (Character/Command User Interface)
2. GUI (Graphical User Interface)

Character/Command User Interface:-

• In this environment all the operations are performed by the means of commands.
• This environment is difficult to work.

            e.g.   MS DOS

                      UNIX

Graphical User Interface:-

• In this environment all the operations can be perform just by clicking on graphical object, which are available on the screen.
• In this environment the commands are  available as graphical objects, which may be icon, menu, options, tool, etc.
• This environment is very easy to work.

            e.g.    Windows, Linux, Android, Mac OS, etc.

Types of Operating System

There are different types of operating system:-

1. Single User Operating System
2. Multi User Operating System
3. Single Tasking Operating System
4. Multi Tasking Operating System
5. Multi Programming or Multi Processing Operating System
6. Real Time Operating System
7. Time Sharing Operating System
8. Network Operating System
9. Distributed Operating System

Single User Operating System:-

The environment in which only one user can work with the system

at a time.

                e.g. MS DOS, Windows, Linux, Android, etc

Multi User Operating System:-

The environment in which multiple users can work at a time of the system , known as multi user o/s.

                e.g. Unix

Single Tasking Operating System:-

The environment in which only one operation can be performed at a time, called single tasking operating system.

                e.g. MS DOS

Multi Tasking Operating System:-

The environment in which multiple operations can be performed at a time known as multi tasking operating system.

                e.g. Android, Windows, Linux, Mac OS

Multi Programming or Multi Processing O/S:-

The environment in which multiple programmers or multiple processes execute at a time called called multi programming or multi processing operating system.

                e.g. Android, Linux, Mac OS, Windows

Note :- All multi programming o/s are multi tasking but the reverse need not be true.

Real Time Operating System:-

The environment in which a task has to be completed in within the given deadline (time-interval) , called real time operating system.

                                        The concept of this operating system is used in railway reservation system, air craft management system, etc.

Time Sharing Operating System:-

In this environment the time of CPU is shared among all the processes, i.e, the CPU executes the processes one by one just by sharing itself partially and repeatedly.

Network Operating System:-

This type of O/S provides supports to work in a network.

                                     In this environment one station (computer) is visible to the other station also.

                                     This environment is not more secure.

Distributed Operating System:-

This type of O/S also provides supports to work in the network, but in this environment one station is hidden from the other stations.

                                      This is more secure than the Network O/S.

Multi Processor Operating System:-

The O/S which supports to work with multiple processor in a system is called multi processor O/S.

                                      This type of O/S is generally used in super computer. When in a system multiple processors are working together than it is known as parallel processor.

Functions & Views of OS :-    Click Here