Operating system
An operating system is the core software of a computer, phone or other device, which manages its hardware and allows applications to run and people to use it
What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.
What it is and how it works
It loads when the device starts and handles tasks such as managing memory, processor and storage, controlling peripherals, organising files and providing an interface, graphical or text-based. Applications, such as a browser or word processor, rely on it to run.
On computers the most widespread are Windows, macOS, Linux distributions and ChromeOS; on phones, Android and iOS. Once-significant systems such as Windows Phone and Symbian are no longer maintained. When designing or developing a digital product, the operating system shapes interface patterns, design guidelines and compatibility.
Also known as
OS
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