Introduction to Operating Systems
What you’ll learn to do: Determine what operating system you have.
Every computer has an operating system: put simply, this is the system that allows your computer to operate. It is important to know which operating system your computer has because the steps to accomplish various tasks varies between operating systems. Reading directions on how to change the desktop background in Windows 10 may not help you if you are running Windows XP, and those directions will be useless if you are using a Mac. However, nearly all versions of Windows and macOS are capable of doing the same things.
Ubuntu GNU/Linux, a free operating system.
Operating System
An operating system (or OS) is a group of computer programs, device drivers, kernels, and other software that let people interact with a computer. It manages computer hardware and software resources. It provides common services for computer programs. An OS can be small (like MenuetOS), or large (like Microsoft Windows). Different operating systems can be used for different purposes. Some are used for everyday things like on a personal computer. Others are mobile operating systems or are used for specialized work.
An operating system has many jobs. It makes sure that all the programs can use the CPU, system memory, displays, input devices, and other hardware. Some also give the user an interface to use a computer. An OS is also responsible for sending data to other computers or devices on a network. Some examples of commonly used operating systems are macOS, Linux, and Microsoft Windows.
This lesson is part of:
Introduction to Computer Literacy