Operating system functions

In any computer, the operating system:

Windows Task Manager provides information about programs running on your computer

• controls the backing storebacking store: a computer's primary data store, ie the hard disk and peripheralsperipherals: a device that connects to a computer, eg a mouse, keyboard, printer or scanner such as scanners and printers
• deals with the transfer of programs in and out of memory
• organises the use of memorymemory: used to store data between programs
• organises processing timeprocessing time: the time it takes for a processor to process an input and generate an output between programs and users
• maintains security and access rights of users
• deals with errors and user instructions
• allows the user to save files to a backing store
• provides the interface between the user and the computer - for example, WindowsWindows: Microsoft's branding that precedes the operating systems name, eg Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista etc. VistaWindows Vista: an operating system by Microsoft and Apple OSXApple OSX: an operating system by Apple Computers. For more information, see the User Interfaces Revision Bite.
• issues simple error messages

In a larger computer such as a main frame the operating system works on the same principles.