In generals, OS does the following core functions:
1. Input and output management: Input and output refers to the communication between information processing system and user. The user interacts with the machine by providing information through I/O devices. The task of managing various input output devices such as keyboard, mouse, monitor, and printer has to be done by OS. The OS, without the intervention of the user program, should Handel, I/O devices in a uniform manner.
2. Process management: It manages the processes running in a computer system. A process is a program that is being currently run on a computer system. During execution, a process needs certain resources such as CPU time, memory space, files and I/O devices. So, OS manages the process running in a computer system. For example, a word processor application program such as MS-word runs as a process in a computer system.
3. File management: It manages the files and directories of a computer system. A file, can be defined as a collection of information or data that is stored in the memory of a computer system. All computer system store, retriever and share information. A computer stores information in units called files. Every file has a unique name. Process read information from files and creates new files for storing newly generated information. An OS allow us to create, modify, save, delete, protect, sharing, naming files in a computer system.
4. Device management: This function of OS deals with the management of peripheral devices, such as printer, mouse, and keyboard attached to a computer system. An OS interacts with the hardware devices through specific device drivers. The main task of OS is to manage I/O operation performed by end users.
5. Security management: Computer system often store large amount of information, some of which are highly sensitive and valuable to their users. Users can trust a computer system if its various resources and information stored in it are protected against destruction and unauthorized access. An OS uses various techniques such as authentication, authorization for ensuring security of a computer system.
6. Memory management: It manages the memory resources of a computer system. There are various memory resources of computer system including primary memory and secondary memory like hard disk and compact disk. All the programs are loaded in the main memory before their execution. Memory management is the function of the operating system to determine how much memory should be provided to each process.
7. User interface: A user interface is the part of an operating system, program or a device that the user uses to input and receive data. The OS reads the commands entered by the user, interprets them and execute them by hardware. The command's entry process is different in different user interface system. A text interface shows text and its commands are usually written from the keyboard to the command line. The GUI is carried out by clicking and moving buttons, icons and menus with the mouse.
8. Command interpreter: For using various system resources, a user communicates with the operating system with a set of commands provided by it. The OS provides a command language or job control language, using which a user can put several commands together from the commands set to describe the resource requirement of a job. Command interpreter interprets user commands and directs system resources to process the commands.
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