Importance and Functions of Operating System
The following are some of the important functions of an operating System:
- Processor management which involves putting the tasks into order and pairing them into manageable size before they go to the CPU.
- Memory management coordinates data to and from RAM (random-access memory) and determines the necessity for virtual memory.
- Device management which provides an interface between connected devices.
- Storage management which directs permanent data storage.
- Application which allows standard communication between software and your computer.
- User interface which allows you to communicate with your computer.
- It provides file management which refers to the way that the operating system manipulates, stores, retrieves and saves data.
- Error Handling is done by the operating system. It takes preventive measures whenever required to avoid errors.
- Security − By means of password and similar other techniques, it prevents unauthorized access to programs and data.
- Control over system performance − Recording delays between the request for a service and response from the system.
- Coordination between other software and users − Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters, assemblers and other software to the various users of the computer systems.
Importance
Following are the need and importance of an operating system
- The operating system behaves like a resource manager. It utilizes the computer in a cost-effective manner.
- It schedules jobs according to their priority passing control from one program to the next.
- The overall function of job control is especially important where there are several users.
- The operating system makes a communication link between the user and the system.
- It helps the user to run application programs properly and get the required output.
- Operating system has the ability to fetch the programs in the memory when required and not all the operating system to be loaded in the memory at the same time.
- The operating system helps the user in file management, making directions, and saving files in them.
- Multiprogramming is a very important feature of operating system.
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