There are two main categories of software used on computers:

• Systems software – includes operating systems and utilities;
• Application software.

Operating systems (OS) are found in almost all computing devices, from video game consoles to mobile phones, tablets to desktops, and from data servers to supercomputers.

They control the general operation of the system or device and provide a way for users to interact with it and run programs.

Well-known operating systems include: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Ubuntu, Android, iOS.

The Purpose and Functionality of Operating Systems

The operating system manages the hardware in a computer and provides an environment for applications to run. It is essential to the function of any computer.

The functions controlled by the OS include:

• User interface – allows the user to interact with the system;
• Memory management – controls the use of RAM and shares processor time between different programs and processes;
• Peripheral management – controls peripheral devices using drivers;
• User management – controls who can access the computer and what resources they can use;
• File management – allows users to organize their work into folders and subfolders.

User Interface

The user interface allows the user to interact with the computer system. Most modern OSs provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI), which uses small icons to represent files, devices and applications, and allows the user to interact by clicking, dragging or touching them.

Most systems use the WIMP interface: