Operating system

In computing, an operating system (OS) is the system software responsible for the direct control and management of hardware and basic system operations. Additionally, it provides a foundation upon which to run application software such as word processing programs and web browsers.

Common core services

As operating systems evolve, ever more services are expected to be common core. Since the 1990s, OS's have often been required to provide network and Internet connectivity. They may be required to protect the computer's other software from damage by malicious programs, such as viruses. The list of common core services is ever expanding.

Related Topics:
1990s - Common core services

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Programs communicate with each other through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), similar to how humans interact with programs through user interfaces. This is especially true between application programs and the OS. The OS's common core services are accessed by application programs through the OS's APIs. Thus an OS enables the communication between hardware and software.

Related Topics:
Application Programming Interfaces - User interfaces

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CPU scheduling is also a main function of the operating system.

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See also: POSIX

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