OPERATING SYSTEM

An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.

Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, printing, and other resources.

For hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation, the operating system acts as an intermediary between programs and the computer hardware,^[1][2] although the application code is usually executed directly by the hardware and frequently makes system calls to an OS function or is interrupted by it. Operating systems are found on many devices that contain a computer – from cellular phones and video game consoles to web servers and supercomputers.

The dominant general-purpose^[3] desktop operating system is Microsoft Windows with a market share of around 76.45%. macOS by Apple Inc. is in second place (17.72%), and the varieties of Linux are collectively in third place (1.73%).^[4] In the mobile sector (including smartphones and tablets), Android's share is up to 72% in the year 2020.^[5] According to third quarter 2016 data, Android's share on smartphones is dominant with 87.5 percent with also a growth rate of 10.3 percent per year, followed by Apple's iOS with 12.1 percent with per year decrease in market share of 5.2 percent, while other operating systems amount to just 0.3 percent.^[6] Linux distributions are dominant in the server and supercomputing sectors. Other specialized classes of operating systems (special-purpose operating systems),^[3][7] such as embedded and real-time systems, exist for many applications. Security-focused operating systems also exist. Some operating systems have low system requirements (e.g. light-weight Linux distribution). Others may have higher system requirements.

 

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What is a computer?

A computer is any machine that can be programmed to carry out a set of algorithms and arithmetic instructions. 

Of course, the computers we think of today are so much more than that—and I’m talking beyond just being machines used to play games and watch videos of cats on the internet!

5 parts of a computer

Whether it's a gaming system or a home PC, the five main components that make up a typical, present-day computer include:

• A motherboard
• A Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), also known as a video card
• Random Access Memory (RAM), also known as volatile memory
• Storage: Solid State Drive (SSD) or Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

In terms of construction, each of these main components are attached to the motherboard and then put into a protective case—resembling the clean, polished look most of us are accustomed to seeing. 

Sure, most computers have their own distinct design - and different brands of hardware installed - but the components listed above are standard across all computers.