Operating Systems Overview

This set of flashcards covers essential terminology and concepts related to operating systems, including definitions and key functions.

Operating System

A program that controls the execution of application programs and acts as an interface between the user and the hardware.

Memory Management

The process of managing a computer's primary memory, including tracking available memory and allocating/deallocating memory to processes.

Virtual Memory

A memory management capability that allows a computer to compensate for physical memory shortages by temporarily transferring data from RAM to disk storage.

Device Management

The management of device communication via their respective drivers, including tracking devices and allocating them to processes.

File Management

The activities of an operating system that involve tracking file locations, usage, and status within directories.

Process Management

The handling of processes in an operating system, including scheduling, creation, termination, and managing their execution context.

Bootstrap

The process of starting a computer and loading the operating system into memory.

Kernel

The core part of an operating system that manages system resources and the communication between hardware and software.

CLI (Command Line Interface)

A user interface that allows direct command entry via text commands.

GUI (Graphical User Interface)

A user interface that allows interaction through graphical icons and visual indicators.

Multithreading

A feature that allows multiple threads of a program to run concurrently, improving the efficiency of processing.

Deadlock

A situation in operating systems where two or more processes are unable to continue because each is waiting on the other.

Interrupts

Signals sent to the CPU by external devices or by software to indicate that an event has occurred and requires attention.

I/O Controller

A program responsible for managing device communication and I/O operations.

Process Control Block (PCB)

A data structure used by the operating system to store all the information about a process.