Operating Systems and Memory Management

Flashcards covering essential terms and concepts related to operating systems, memory management, and scheduling algorithms in computer science.

Operating System

Software that manages computer hardware and provides services for computer programs.

Memory Management

The process by which an operating system allocates and deallocates memory during application execution.

Resource Management

The function of an operating system that manages the CPU, memory, and other hardware resources.

File Management

The handling of the storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data files by an operating system.

Interrupt Handling

The process of managing interrupt signals to ensure that tasks requiring immediate attention are addressed by the CPU.

Security in Operating Systems

Features that protect data and resources, such as password protection, firewalls, and antivirus programs.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

A visual way for users to interact with the software, allowing for easy navigation and operation of programs.

Device Driver

A software component that allows the operating system to communicate with hardware devices.

Virtual Memory

A memory management capability that uses hardware and software to allow a computer to compensate for physical memory shortages.

Paging

A memory management scheme that eliminates the need for contiguous allocation of physical memory and eliminates external fragmentation.

Segmentation

A memory management technique where processes are divided into segments of variable lengths.

Shortest Job First (SJF) Scheduling

A non-preemptive scheduling algorithm where the process with the smallest execution time is selected next.

Round Robin Scheduling

A preemptive scheduling algorithm that assigns time slices to each process in a cyclic order.

First-Come, First-Served (FCFS)

A non-preemptive scheduling algorithm that serves processes in the order they arrive in the ready queue.

Multi-Level Feedback Queue

A scheduling algorithm that uses multiple queues with different priority levels to manage tasks efficiently.

Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)

An operating system that guarantees a certain capability within a specified time constraint.

Embedded Operating System

An operating system designed to operate on small machines such as appliances and devices with a dedicated function.

Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

Firmware that initializes computer hardware during the booting process and provides runtime services.

Hypervisor

Software that creates and runs virtual machines, managing their resources and activities.