Operating System Basics Questions with Solutions

An operating system (OS) is the system software that manages a computer's hardware and provides services to programs and users. This topic covers the main functions of an OS: process management, memory management, file management, device management and security. It also covers types of operating systems (batch, multiprogramming, multitasking, multiuser, real-time and distributed), common examples such as Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and iOS, and interface types such as the command-line interface and the graphical user interface. Exam questions test the functions of an OS, identifying the type of OS suited to a situation, booting (cold and warm boot), and basic terms such as kernel, shell, file system and multitasking. The kernel is the core of the OS that directly controls the hardware, while the shell is the interface through which users give commands. Practise the operating system basics questions below. Each answer includes an explanation.