Quick Answer: What Does Operating System Mean?
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What is an operating system simple definition?

An operating system, or “OS,” is software that communicates with the hardware and allows other programs to run.

Every desktop computer, tablet, and smartphone includes an operating system that provides basic functionality for the device.

Common desktop operating systems include Windows, OS X, and Linux.

What is an operating system and give examples?

Some examples include versions of Microsoft Windows (like Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP), Apple’s macOS (formerly OS X), Chrome OS, BlackBerry Tablet OS, and flavors of the open source operating system Linux. Some examples include Windows Server, Linux, and FreeBSD.

Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance

Cybersecurity & Digital Privacy Researcher

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.

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