An operating system is system software that acts as a master control program, controlling the hardware and

interacting with the user and application software.

An operating system performs the following functions:
Displays the on-screen elements with which you interactthe user interface.
Loads programs into the computer's memory so that you can use them.
Coordinates how programs work with the computer's hardware and other software.
Manages the way information is stored on and retrieved from disks.
The four major types of operating systems are real-time operating systems, singleuser/single-tasking
operating systems, single-user/multitasking operating systems,and multi-user/multitasking operating systems.
Most modern operating systems feature a graphical user interface (GUI). You control a GUI-based system by
clickng graphical objects on the screen. In a typical GUI, all objects and resources appear on a background
called the desktop.
In a GUI, you access programs and other resources in rectangular frames called windows. Applications
running under the same operating system use many of the same graphical elements, so you see a familiar
interface no matter what program you are using.
Some older operating systems use a command-line interface, which the user controls by typing commands
at a prompt
The operating system manages all the other programs that run on the PC, and it provides services such as
file management, memory management, and printing to those programs.
Some operating systems enable programs to share information using a feature known as the Clipboard. This
lets you create data in one program and use it again in other programs.
The Object Linking and Embedding feature in Windows extends its data-sharing capabilities, allowing you to
embed data into a document while working in an application that cannot on its own, manipulate the data.
The OS uses interrupt requests (IRQs) to maintain organized communication with the CPU and other
hardware.
Each hardware device is controlled by another piece of software, called a driver, that allows the OS to
activate and use the device.
A utility is a program that extends or enhances the operating system's capability. It may add a new capability
to the operating system.