Operating System
An operating system is the core software that manages the hardware, runs applications and forms the bridge between the user and the device. Windows, macOS, Android and iOS are its best-known examples.
| In brief | The core software that manages a device's hardware and allows applications to run. |
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| Technical definition | System software that manages processor time, memory, storage and input-output resources, and offers applications a common set of services and an interface. |
| Everyday example | Your phone's settings menu, its home screen and your ability to move between applications are all services the operating system provides. |
| Why it matters | It is the base layer that determines which applications you can use, how secure the device is and what using it feels like; its updates are the backbone of that security. |
| Common misconceptions |
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The conductor of the device
Dozens of jobs run at once on a computer: the screen is drawn, the keyboard is listened to, files are read, internet packets come and go. The operating system is the conductor managing all of this; it decides how much of the processor each application may use, which data is taken into RAM and how files are organised in storage. Applications speak to the hardware not directly but through the operating system.
Familiar names
Windows, macOS and Linux are the most widespread operating systems on computers, and Android and iOS on phones and tablets. The operating system determines which device an application will run on, which is why application stores are also divided along operating system lines. Staying within the same ecosystem makes changing device easier; moving to a different ecosystem is possible but calls for steps to carry applications and files across.
Why do updates matter?
Operating system updates do not only bring new features; they also close security holes that have been discovered. Postponing an update means leaving a known hole open. When a manufacturer ends operating system updates for a device, the device carries on working but begins to be unprotected against new holes. That is why, when buying a device, the length of update support is a more lasting value than most technical specifications.
Related terms: Software, Hardware, RAM, Smartphone