Functions of Operating System

A computer system has hardware and software components. The hardware is the physical component, whereas software components are the set of instructions or codes that are used to perform various tasks in the computer system. There are two types of software programs: operating system and application software. Operating systems are the programs that control all the other applications of the system. In this article, we will learn about operating systems and the role of operating systems.

What is an operating system? 

The role of the operating system (OS) is like that of a manager. It manages all the components of a computer system, such as the CPU, RAM, hard disk, etc. Above all, the OS controls the application software and different users’ access to the system. Some of the most popular operating systems are iOS, Windows, Linux, and Android.

The main function of the operating system is to provide a platform to users for developing software applications. The other basic function of the operating system is to provide the user with an interface to communicate with the computing device.

Types of user interface of operating systems

There are various kinds of user interfaces of operating systems. Some of the most common ones are:

• Command-based interface
• Graphical user Interface
• Touch-based interface
• Voice-based interface
• Gesture-based interface

Let us learn about these kinds of user interfaces of the operating system:

1. Command-based interface

The user needs to enter the input commands in the command-based interface to perform any task. Thus, the user needs to remember all the commands required to perform any task. The input device is a keyboard. 

There are a lot of disadvantages to using a command-based interface. For example, users can only perform one task, and remembering various commands can be difficult for many. An example of a command-based interface is MS-DOS.

2. Graphical user interface (GUI)

In this interface, the user provides the commands to the computer system through visual options. For GUI, the primary input devices are the keyboard and mouse. An example of a GUI is Microsoft Windows. 

3. Touch-based interface

The touch-based interface allows users to perform any task by touching the screen. Smartphones, tablets, and modern laptops come with touch-based interfaces.

The input is provided by touching the screen to perform tasks such as opening an app or typing. Examples of touch-based interfaces are Android and iOS.

4. Voice-based interface

The voice-based interface allows users to perform the task by speaking the command. The primary input for this interface is the microphone.

There is no need for a mouse, keyboard, or touchscreen for this voice-based interface. There are various operating systems that provide it; iOS (Siri) Android (‘OK’ Google ).

5. Gesture-based interface

Some operating systems have gesture-based interfaces. It is a fast-developing technology that has enormous usage in gaming, medicine, and various sectors. 

Many Android and iOS operating systems allow users to provide commands through gestures such as waving, nodding, and even eye movements.

Functions of operating system :-

There are various functions of operating systems. The basic function of the operating system is to manage the programs and application software of the system to make it more efficient. However, there are some other main functions of operating systems. For example, the operating system is also responsible for managing the CPU, memory, input and output devices; therefore, it is also known as a resource manager. Let us learn about the functions in detail:

1. Process management 

In a computer system, various tasks are performed at the same time. The role of an operating system is to manage all the processes (tasks in execution). The OS decides which process gets access to the processing and how much time is required.

Thus OS schedules and keeps track of the processes. Since the CPU is the control unit of the computer system, allocating it to different processes is one of the most crucial functions that operating systems perform.

2. Device management

A computer system has various input and output devices that interact together to perform the task. Now, the basic function of an operating system is to manage the hardware and I/O devices. The OS interrelates with its software program and device driver for any device.

The operating system allocates the program related to the driver and also keeps track of all devices. Thus the OS communicates with the devices to allow them to perform any task.

3. Memory management 

Any task or program before execution is loaded into the primary memory. However, the primary or main memory of the computer system is very limited. Therefore, it is one of the main functions of the operating system to allocate the memory to programs.

It regulates the main memory by keeping track of memory bytes used by every process. Other than that, the OS also determines the order and amount of memory allocated to different tasks or processes.

4. File management 

All data, programs, and information are saved as files in the secondary storage unit of the computer. The operating system manages these files from creation, deletion, and security. The OS maintains complete track of where the files are stored, their status, and access.

Some other functions of operating system

Apart from the above-mentioned functions, the operating system has various other roles as well. These include:

• Providing security to data and files by preventing unauthorised access.
• Monitoring the complete performance of the system and improving it.
• Continuously regulating the system to detect any error or bug.
• Being responsible for executing all kinds of programs.
• Keeping check of all the functionalities occurring in the computer system.

Conclusion

The operating system is a program that manages various programs and hardware, software, input and output devices. With the evolution of technology, many types of user interfaces of operating systems have developed. I/O management, secondary storage management, communication management, network management and many more, all come under the role of operating systems.