What really is an Operating System and a kernel?

OS application AND kernel

An operating system is a control program for a computer. It has two main purposes which include many sub-functions. 1 The first function is to allocate computer resources and schedule tasks. Computer resources include all the hardware: the central processing unit, system memory, disk and tape storage, printers, terminals, modems, and anything else that is connected to or inside the computer. 2 The second function is to offer interfaces to the user � it gives the user a way to access the computer resources. The kernel is the essential center of a computer operating system, the core that provides basic services and establish relation between hardware and software for all other parts of the operating system.

For more details..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_(computer_science)

http://www.answers.com/kernel?cat=technology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system

http://www.answers.com/topic/operating-system?cat=biz-fin

First answer by ID3325479442. Last edit by The abhijeet. Contributor trust: 88 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 16 [recommend question]