How the OS interfaces between the user, apps, hardware?
Introduction
Operating systems (OS) play an important role as intermediaries between users, applications, and hardware components, facilitating seamless interaction and functionality. The user interface (UI) allows users to interact with the operating system and programs through graphical elements or the command line. Application programming interfaces (APIs) enable applications to communicate with the operating system, accessing hardware resources such as memory, storage, and processing power. The OS efficiently manages hardware resources, allocating them to applications as needed for optimal performance. Furthermore, device drivers facilitate communication between hardware and software components, ensuring effective functioning of devices such as printers and graphics cards. Overall, OS interfaces are essential for the smooth operation of computers and devices, enhancing user experience and productivity.
A modern computer comprises of the following:
- One or more processors
- Main memory
- Disks
- Printers
- Various input/output devices.
So, to control all of these components, we need a layer of software in the computer system, which we name the Operating System.
An operating system is a program that serves as an intermediate or interface between a computer user and its hardware.
It is the most fundamental sort of system software in computer systems. Without an operating system, the user is unable to run computer applications.
The following is the structure of an operating system:
An operating system, commonly known as an OS, is a software that governs computer hardware while simultaneously serving as a foundation for application programs & acting as an intermediate between computer users and computer hardware. Here are some examples of popular operating systems nowadays.
Function of the Operating SystemThe first and most important role of an operating system is to serve as an interface between the user and hardware. It serves as an interface between the user and the hardware, with resource allocation coming second. So, I have told you what I mean by resources. Here, we mean the hardware that we have, such as the central processor unit, RAM, and input/output devices. So, when I or other users wish to use other resources. As a result, they must be apportioned, as our resources are limited. We have limited resources; hence we have restricted hardware. So, the operating system determines how these resources should be shared to users so that everyone gets their fair share and the system runs efficiently. So, it assigns resources to different users or processes in an efficient manner, which is the operating system's function, and then it manages memory, secures it, and so on. So, even when we were typing in this word processor, we had to first load it into main memory and then store it to secondary memory or the hard disc. How memory is controlled. So, the operating system controls how and where things are kept, as well as how securely they are done. So, these are some of the primary functions of the operating system.
Hardware
So, first and foremost, at the lowest level, we have computer hardware. What exactly is computer hardware? Computer hardware consists of resources such as a central processing unit (CPU), memory, and I/O devices (input/output devices). So, your resources include processing units, CPU, and RAM. Memory is divided into two types: primary memory (RAM) and secondary memory (ROMs). So initially, let's talk about our memory and I/O devices. An I/O device refers to the input/output devices. These are the devices you utilize to either provide input to your system or get output from it. So, examples of input devices include keyboards, mice, and microphones. These are the devices that you use to input into the system, and output devices are the devices that you use to obtain output out of your systems, such as monitors or speakers, which provide you with output or show you or make you hear it. These are your output devices; thus, everything is considered computer hardware.
Application programs
Application programs reside on top of the operating system in the hierarchy of a computer system. System software, including the operating system itself, serves as the foundation upon which application programs operate. Application software encompasses a wide range of programs designed to fulfil specific user tasks or functions, such as word processors, web browsers, and multimedia players. These programs leverage the services provided by the operating system, interacting with hardware through the OS's interfaces. Thus, while the operating system manages the computer's resources and provides essential services, application programs utilize these resources to perform tasks tailored to the user's needs.