5 Important Functions of Operating System Explained

An operating system (OS) manages computer software and hardware resources, making your device to run. This article will describe the functions of an operating system and their main tasks. 

The operating system (OS) in the computing environment serves as an intermediary between users and computer hardware.

Let's examine the functions of the OS in detail below!

Table of Content

• What is an Operating System?
• Functions of Operating System
  • File management
  • Device management
  • Process management
  • Memory management
  • Job Accounting

What is an Operating System?

An Operating System is an interface between hardware and software.

An operating system is a software that runs/manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. Different applications/software are installed on these systems.

In other words, OS is the backbone of your computer. It’s responsible for your computer’s essential functions, such as starting up, shutting down, and managing your files. You can go on to say that it acts as an interface between you and the computer.

An OS can be installed on various hardware platforms, from desktop computers to mobile devices. The most popular desktop operating system is Microsoft Windows, while the most popular mobile operating system is Apple iOS.

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What are the Functions of Operating Systems?

Let's define the main functions of the operating systems, irrespective of their types. 

1. File Management

An operating system’s (OS) primary function is to manage files and folders.

They are responsible for managing the files on a computer. This includes creating, opening, closing, and deleting files. It also organizes the files on the disk.

Think of your desktop's OS as a project manager. A project manager manages the whole team, checks the working of all the team members, provides resources, and facilitates things for team members in the same way the operating system will be responsible for checking processes, providing resources when required and ensuring that everything is in order. This also includes managing which files and folders are stored on the computer and who has access to them.

For example, you may be able to read a file but not edit or delete it. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing or tampering with your files.

Common File Management Functions of Operating System

• Keeps track of the location and status of files.
• Allocating and deallocating resources.
• Decide which resource to assign to which file.

Besides this, OS helps in:

1. Creating a file: The operating system provides a graphical user interface or command-line interface that allows users to create new files. In a graphical user interface-
   1. You can right-click on a folder or desktop and select “New”
   2. Choose the type of file you want to create, such as a text file or a Microsoft Word document. Alternatively, you can use a command-line interface and type commands to create files.
2. Editing a file: Once a file has been created, you can use various tools, such as a word processor and applications, provided by the operating system, to edit it.
3. Updating a file: The operating system provides the facility to edit the file and also tracks changes made to the file and updates the file metadata accordingly.
4. Deleting a file: The operating system allows you to delete the file you no longer need. The OS moves the file to the recycle bin or trash folder, which can be restored if necessary, or permanently deletes it from the storage device.

2. Device Management

OS can also function to manage devices connected to your computer. These functions include allocating memory, processing input and output requests, and managing storage devices. These devices could be a keyboard, mouse, printer, or any other device you may have connected.

An operating system will provide options for managing each device's behaviour. For example, you can set up your keyboard to type in a specific language or make the mouse move only one screen at a time.

If directed, it can also install software and updates for your devices and manage their security settings. 

The operating system does the following tasks:

• Allocate and deallocate devices to different processes.
• Keeps records of all the devices attached to the computer.
• Decides which device to be allocated to which process and for how much time.

3. Process Management

An operating system manages the processes on your computer. This includes starting and stopping programs, allocating resources, and managing memory usage. It ensures that the programs running on your computer should be compatible. For enforcing program security, this software can help to keep your computer safe from potential attacks.

How do operating systems manage all processes?

Each process, called a quantum, is given a certain amount of time to execute. Once a process has used its quantum, the operating system interrupts it, providing another process with a turn. Each process gets a fair share of the CPU time.

The operating system manages processes by doing the following tasks:

• Allocate and deallocate resources. 
• Allocates resources such that the system doesn’t run out of resources.
• Offering mechanisms for process synchronization.
• Helps in process communication (intercommunication).

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4. Memory Management

One of the most critical functions of an operating system is memory management. This is the process of keeping track of all the different applications and processes running on your computer and all the data they’re using.

This is especially important on computers with limited memory, as it ensures that no application or process takes up too much space and slows down the computer. The operating system can move data around and delete files to free up space.

Operating systems perform the following tasks-

• Allocating/deallocating memory to store programs.
• Deciding the amount of memory that should be allocated to the program.
• Memory distribution while multiprocessing.
• Update the status in case memory is freed
• Keeps record of how much memory is used and how much is unused.

When a computer starts, the operating system loads itself into memory and manages all the other running programs. It checks how much memory is used and how much is available and makes sure that executing programs do not interfere with each other.

5. Job Accounting

An operating system’s (OS) job accounting feature is a powerful tool for tracking how your computer’s resources are being used. This information can help you pinpoint and troubleshoot any performance issues and identify unauthorized software installations.

The OS can track which users and processes use how many resources. This information can be used for various purposes, including monitoring system usage, billing users for their resource use, and providing system administrators with information about which users and processes are causing problems.

The operating system does the following tasks:

• Keeps record of all the activities taking place on the system.
• Keeps record of information regarding resources, memory, errors, resources, etc.
• Responsible for Program swapping(in and out) in memory
• Keeps track of memory usage and accordingly assigns memory
• Opening and closing and writing to peripheral devices.
• Creating a file system for organizing files and directories.

We hope this article has given you a better understanding of the different functions of operating systems and how they can benefit your life. They constantly evolve and improve, so staying updated with the latest releases and installing them is essential.