6.1 Role and Functions of an OS

The Operating System (OS) has many important jobs, just like a school principal manages many different things to keep the school running. It's constantly working behind the scenes to make sure your computer does what you want it to do.

6.1.1 Think of these as the main superpowers of an OS:

Resource Management: Your computer has many "resources" – like its brain (CPU), its short-term memory (RAM), its long-term storage (hard drive), and devices like the printer or mouse. The OS acts like a traffic cop, deciding which program gets to use which resource and for how long. This prevents programs from crashing into each other or hogging all the resources.
Process Management: Every program you run (like your web browser, a game, or a word processor) is called a "process" by the OS. The OS starts, stops, and manages all these processes, making sure they run smoothly without interfering with each other. It decides which process gets a turn to use the computer's brain (CPU).
Memory Management: When programs run, they need space in your computer's short-term memory (RAM) to store information they're actively using. The OS is like a librarian, finding free space in memory for programs and keeping track of what information is where. It makes sure programs don't try to use memory that another program is already using.
File Management: The OS helps you organize all your files and folders on the hard drive. When you save a picture, open a document, or delete a game, the OS is doing the work to find, store, and manage that data. It's like the filing system for all your digital stuff.

Bibliography:

Functions of an Operating System. (2025, April 29). GeeksforGeeks. Retrieved July 10, 2025, from https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/operating-systems/functions-of-operating-system/
What is an Operating System? (n.d.). TutorialsPoint. Retrieved July 10, 2025