Why use an operating system? An operating system brings powerful benefits to computer software and software development. Without an operating system, every application would need to include its own UI ...

An operating system (OS) is the program that, after being initially loaded into the computer by a boot program, manages all the other application programs in a computer. The application programs use ...

The computer's master control program. When a computer is turned on, a small "boot program" loads the operating system. Although additional system modules may be loaded as needed, the main part, known ...

A system software component that is external to the operating system kernel. If the phrase is used to refer to the operating system itself, it is redundant because an operating system "is" software.