Operating systems are the software that runs in the background of computers. They manage hardware components like memory keyboards, file systems, keyboards printers and monitors. It also controls access to the central processor unit or CPU.
An OS allows multiple programs to be running simultaneously, a process called multitasking. This is because the OS allocates system resources to the program, including memory space and CPU during execution. It tracks the amount of memory and CPU time the program uses and makes sure that it doesn’t interfere with other programs that use the same resources.
Operating systems track where files are located and the status of each file on the computer’s disk. They create a virtual directory structure and record the locations of each file in addition to other metadata such as the date it was created or modified. An OS also makes it possible for an application to connect to the computer’s hardware through drivers. The drivers translate the hardware’s proprietary language into a common language that operating systems comprehend.
If an application has to save the file, it connects to the operating kernel of the system. This is because the application cannot directly connect to the disk drive, and requires a driver in order to communicate with it. The operating system then creates and translates the request for files into a logic operation, and the hardware is utilized according to instructions.