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• An operating system can be defined as a software program that is responsible

for managing and controlling the operations of the computer, programs, and
hardware.

• It also acts as an interface that allows the user to run an application using a
hardware device.

• Without an operating system, a computer working with a computer system will

be impossible for most users.

• Examples of operating systems include Windows, Linux, Android, DOS, etc.

Functions of an Operating System:

• It provides security to user data by using password protection and other
security techniques.

• It also protects user data from unauthorized access.

• It monitors and controls the system's performance by analyzing response time

i.e. the time between system response and service request to help troubleshoot
performance issues.

• It also performs the job accounting for a particular user or group of users by
tracking the resources and time used.

• It also monitors the system performance to avoid system malfunctioning.

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• It is responsible for assigning software such as compilers, interpreters,

assemblers, etc. to perform various tasks.

• It is also responsible for managing the Main Memory by keeping track of the
bytes that are utilized by a program, tracking used and unused memory
addresses.

• The OS also allocates and deallocates the memory to processes.

• The operating system also performs process scheduling i.e. in a multi-

programming environment, it controls the order of processes and their
processing time.

• It also controls the communication of devices to their respective driver by

tracking the devices that are connected to the system and designating the I/O
controller.

• It also controls the file system by tracking where user data is stored as well as
manages the user access settings.

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Credit: Computer Science by D. Watson and H. Williams

• An Interrupt can be defined as a signal that is sent by software or device to the

processor.

• When an interrupt is received by a processor; the processor pauses whatever it

was doing and handles the interrupt.

• The interrupt can be received by the processor in many situations, few

examples are given below:

-When a disk drive is ready to receive more data.

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-When an error has occurred e.g. printer paper jam.

-When the user wants to break the current process e.g. pressed keys at the same
time.

•  When the processor has received the interrupt it either stops the current
process and handles the program or device that generated the interrupt or it
continues to do its current process.

• The main function of interrupts is to allow the system to perform multiple

tasks at a time or to open multiple windows simultaneously.

Example:

You can download a file from the internet, and watch a movie or play a game on
the system at the same time.

• After an interrupt is initiated and serviced by the processor the current task's
status is changed from 'run' to 'saved'.

• Once the interrupt is serviced completely, the status is reinstated and the task
starts from the point it was left before the interrupt was serviced.

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