What are the 11 functions of the operating system

Introduction to Functions of Operating System

The main function of an Operating System is to manage the computer resources well. This function is carried out with the help of the user and hence user interface should be proper and well maintained. Functions of OS help the user to do the tasks assigned to the system and it helps to do it in a proper manner. The services are provided to the user in the form of application software. Also controlling the device for several functions help the user to perform the tasks. Security and storage are the other areas where OS focus to do the system tasks and to help the user.

What Is the Operating System?

• The Operating System as a computing device that helps the user to do the tasks assigned to it. Hardware and software are managed by OS and it provides resources to the user. The OS acts as an intermediate between hardware and input, output and memory allocation functions.
• OS manages the following resources – input devices, output devices, storage devices, and network devices. Input devices include keyboard and mouse, output devices are monitors, printers, and scanners, and network device is the modem and so on. Also, storage devices include internal and external storage drives.
• The main components of OS are the kernel, user interface, and application programming interface. Basic control is provided by the kernel to the devices. The user interface helps in user interaction with the system. The code is written by application developers using the application programming interface.

Functions of Operating System

1. Security is provided by OS to the user data and prevents unauthorized access. Data can be protected by giving the password to the files. When an unknown user checks the files, OS asks for the password and hence the data is protected. The system itself is protected with a password. This helps in checking the persons who log into the system.

2. System performance is boosted with the help of the OS. It monitors the response time taken by the system after the service request. If there is any unusual variation in the time, OS monitors the system performance and brings the issue into the user’s notice. High variation or very low variation can be the result of any virus attack. The user is notified to bring the necessary changes.

3. Various applications or tasks and the number of users doing the tasks are accounted for by OS. This helps to know the number of users and the frequency of application usage. Hence storage can be allocated to the system for those applications that have more usage. This helps to track the user and also various tasks that take up the storage of the system.

4. The computing system shows some errors due to the changes in the hardware and these errors are logged in the OS. This log helps the user to identify the errors in the hardware or software and to make necessary changes in the system. This prevents the malfunctioning of the computing device.

5. Many users use the computing system. OS helps to collaborate and coordinate the interpreters, compilers, and assemblers. This maintains the order of the system and the users are not confused with the functioning of various software.

6. The main memory is managed by OS. Several bytes make up the main memory and each byte will have an address. This memory is accessed from the CPU. The program is loaded in the main memory for the program to run efficiently. OS tracks the main memory usage by each application. Also, OS decides which memory should be allocated to which program and how much memory should be allocated and how many users must be given access to check the memory status.

7. OS does the process scheduling. It decides the time of each process assigned to the processor and the order in which the processor is accessed. All the activities of process management are done by OS. It also tracks the status of all the processes. This program is done by the traffic controller. When the process is not required, the processor is de-allocated by OS.

8. OS does device management easily. Device communication is carried out with the help of drivers. The devices connected to the system are tracked and monitored well. A program is made responsible for the devices connected which are called input/output controller. The access to the device by the programs and the time duration is decided by OS.

9. OS organizes the file system into directories so that the files can be easily searched and used whenever needed. The directories have other directories and other files. Information regarding the files, user access details and settings and the running status of each file is monitored and logged by OS. This helps the user to check the files and provide details of the files by checking the logs and the time duration. OS is also called the file system due to the file management provided by OS.

10. OS checks whether the system is ready to work. If not, the system is rebooted and OS makes the system work. This is done by shutting down all the applications so that the application that uses most storage is closed. This helps the user to decide the applications for their use and when the system reboots, the application takes less space. Booting also helps to install and start newly installed software and to work based on customer needs.

11. It takes time to load the program into the system. All the details of the program and the access details, server details have to be checked before starting the program. This loading and execution of the programs are done with the help of OS.

Conclusion

The user interface and application interface helps the user to understand the application software and the OS. OS also provides extra functions so that the system functionalities are done without fail. Coordination with all the applications and tasks help the system to perform well. If a program is written outside the assigned memory, the program is deleted.

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Prerequisite – Introduction of Operating System – Set 1 
An Operating System acts as a communication bridge (interface) between the user and computer hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide a platform on which a user can execute programs in a convenient and efficient manner. 

An operating system is a piece of software that manages the allocation of computer hardware. The coordination of the hardware must be appropriate to ensure the correct working of the computer system and to prevent user programs from interfering with the proper working of the system. 
Example: Just like a boss gives orders to his employee, in a similar way we request or pass our orders to the Operating System. The main goal of the Operating System is to make the computer environment more convenient to use and Secondary goal is to use the resources in the most efficient manner. 

What is an Operating System? 
An operating system is a program on which application programs are executed and acts as a communication bridge (interface) between the user and the computer hardware. 

The main task an operating system carries out is the allocation of resources and services, such as the allocation of memory, devices, processors, and information. The operating system also includes programs to manage these resources, such as a traffic controller, a scheduler, memory management module, I/O programs, and a file system. 

Important functions of an operating System: 

1. Security – The operating system uses password protection to protect user data and similar other techniques. it also prevents unauthorized access to programs and user data. 
2. Control over system performance – Monitors overall system health to help improve performance. records the response time between service requests and system response to having a complete view of the system health. This can help improve performance by providing important information needed to troubleshoot problems. 
3. Job accounting – Operating system Keeps track of time and resources used by various tasks and users, this information can be used to track resource usage for a particular user or group of users. 
4. Error detecting aids – The operating system constantly monitors the system to detect errors and avoid the malfunctioning of a computer system. 
5. Coordination between other software and users – Operating systems also coordinate and assign interpreters, compilers, assemblers, and other software to the various users of the computer systems. 
6. Memory Management – 
   The operating system manages the Primary Memory or Main Memory. Main memory is made up of a large array of bytes or words where each byte or word is assigned a certain address. Main memory is fast storage and it can be accessed directly by the CPU. For a program to be executed, it should be first loaded in the main memory. An Operating System performs the following activities for memory management: 

   It keeps track of primary memory, i.e., which bytes of memory are used by which user program. The memory addresses that have already been allocated and the memory addresses of the memory that has not yet been used. In multiprogramming, the OS decides the order in which processes are granted access to memory, and for how long. It Allocates the memory to a process when the process requests it and deallocates the memory when the process has terminated or is performing an I/O operation. 
    

7. Processor Management – 
   In a multi-programming environment, the OS decides the order in which processes have access to the processor, and how much processing time each process has. This function of OS is called process scheduling. An Operating System performs the following activities for processor management. 

   Keeps track of the status of processes. The program which performs this task is known as a traffic controller. Allocates the CPU that is a processor to a process. De-allocates processor when a process is no more required. 
    

8. Device Management – An OS manages device communication via their respective drivers. It performs the following activities for device management. Keeps track of all devices connected to the system. designates a program responsible for every device known as the Input/Output controller. Decides which process gets access to a certain device and for how long. Allocates devices in an effective and efficient way. Deallocates devices when they are no longer required. 
9. File Management – 
   A file system is organized into directories for efficient or easy navigation and usage. These directories may contain other directories and other files. An Operating System carries out the following file management activities. It keeps track of where information is stored, user access settings and status of every file, and more… These facilities are collectively known as the file system. 

Moreover, Operating System also provides certain services to the computer system in one form or the other. 
The Operating System provides certain services to the users which can be listed in the following manner: 

1. Program Execution: The Operating System is responsible for the execution of all types of programs whether it be user programs or system programs. The Operating System utilizes various resources available for the efficient running of all types of functionalities.
2. Handling Input/Output Operations: The Operating System is responsible for handling all sorts of inputs, i.e, from the keyboard, mouse, desktop, etc. The Operating System does all interfacing in the most appropriate manner regarding all kinds of Inputs and Outputs. 
   For example, there is a difference in the nature of all types of peripheral devices such as mice or keyboards, the Operating System is responsible for handling data between them.
3. Manipulation of File System: The Operating System is responsible for making decisions regarding the storage of all types of data or files, i.e, floppy disk/hard disk/pen drive, etc. The Operating System decides how the data should be manipulated and stored.
4. Error Detection and Handling: The Operating System is responsible for the detection of any type of error or bugs that can occur while any task. The well-secured OS sometimes also acts as a countermeasure for preventing any sort of breach to the Computer System from any external source and probably handling them.
5. Resource Allocation: The Operating System ensures the proper use of all the resources available by deciding which resource to be used by whom for how much time. All the decisions are taken by the Operating System.
6. Accounting: The Operating System tracks an account of all the functionalities taking place in the computer system at a time. All the details such as the types of errors that occurred are recorded by the Operating System.
7. Information and Resource Protection: The Operating System is responsible for using all the information and resources available on the machine in the most protected way. The Operating System must foil an attempt from any external resource to hamper any sort of data or information.

All these services are ensured by the Operating System for the convenience of the users to make the programming task easier. All different kinds of Operating systems more or less provide the same services.