We all know something about operating system. The most frequently heared and used operating systems by us are Microsoft XP,Vista,Windows 7,Linux,Mac,etc., But we doesn't know anything deeper about operating systems. Here i described in a brief about the operating system.

Operating system is a collection of programs which is used to control and co-ordinate the computer system. It also manages the functions which are performed by the computer system hardware, Input/output devices, CPU, secondary storage devices, communication and the network equipments. Generally Operating system is called as a integrated set of specialized programs used to manage the overall operations of the computer.

In memory, some portions of the operating system is always be present is called as nucleolus or kernel. The operating system includes

a.Functions

b.Device driver

c.Language Translators

d.System Utilities

a.Functions Of Operating System:

Here we see the funtioning of an operating system in different levels.

1.Memory Management:

The main memory is the important resource in a computer system and it must be properly managed for the overall system performance. This process handles the allocation and deallocation of memory spaces to the user programs.

2.Process Management:

It is the process of managing the program in execution. It is also called as CPU scheduling. We need to schedule the CPU to improve the overall efficiency of the computer.

3.File Management:

This process manage the file related activities such as file organization, naming, storing, retrievel, sharing and protection of files.

4.Device Management:

It controls all the input/output devices of a computer system and it also provides a flexible and a easy to interface of these devices. For processing the data, the computer needs the input and output devices. These processes are done under the control of device management module of an operating system.

5.Security Management:

It is the process of protecting the computer system resources and information against destruction and unauthorized access.

6.User Interface:

The user gives the instructions to the operating system and the operating system receives the information from it, this process is called User Interface.

b.Device Driver:

These are the special programs used to extend the capabilities of the operating systems in order to support the input/output devices such as keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer,etc.,

This program allows the operating system and the other programs to activate and use the hardware device. It contains all the device dependent codes.

c.Language Translators:

Language Translators is a tool, which is used to translates a programming language to the machine language. Machine Language is the language, that can be understand by the computer. Depends upon the programming language, the language translators were developed.

There are 3 categories of Language Translators are available. They are

i.Compiler

ii.Interpreter

iii.Assembler

i.Compiler:

It is used to convert the high level language into the machine language. It translates the source code into the object code. Each high level language program requires a separate compiler.

ii.Interpreter:

It executes the source code in line by line manner without looking at the entire program. It also executes the statements immediately before translating the next statement.

iii.Assembler:

It is used to convert assembly language program into the machine language program, before the program execution.

d.System Utilities:

These are the set of programs, which is used to maintain the computer system. The common functions of system utilities are

1.File Management

2.Backup

3.Data Recovery

4.Virus Protection

5.Disk Management

6.Firewall

7.Disk Cleanup

8.Disk Defragmentation

I think that this article is useful.