25 Basic Questions and Answers Operating Systems:

 

    • What is an operating system (OS)?
      • An operating system is a software that manages computer hardware and provides common services for computer programs. It acts as an intermediary between applications and hardware.

 

    • Name some popular operating systems.
      • Windows, macOS, Linux, Unix, Android, iOS.

 

    • What are the main functions of an operating system?
        • Memory management, process management, file system management, device management, security, user interface.

       

    • What is the kernel of an operating system?
        • The kernel is the core component of an operating system. It manages system resources, such as CPU, memory, and peripheral devices, and provides low-level functionalities required by other parts of the operating system.

       

    • What is multitasking in an operating system?
      • Multitasking allows multiple tasks or processes to run concurrently on a computer, giving the illusion of parallel execution.

       

    • What is virtual memory?
      • Virtual memory is a memory management technique that allows the operating system to use a portion of the hard disk as an extension of RAM. It enables efficient memory usage by swapping data between RAM and disk storage.

       

    • What is a file system?
      • A file system is a method used by operating systems to organize and store data on storage devices, such as hard drives, SSDs, and flash drives. It provides a way to access, manage, and manipulate files and directories.

       

    • What is a device driver?
      • A device driver is a software component that allows the operating system to communicate with hardware devices, such as printers, keyboards, and network adapters. It acts as a translator between the hardware and the operating system.

       

    • What is a GUI?
        • GUI stands for Graphical User Interface. It is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with the computer using graphical elements, such as windows, icons, menus, and buttons, instead of text-based commands.

       

    • What is a command-line interface (CLI)?
        • A command-line interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with the computer by typing commands into a terminal or console.

       

    • What is a process in an operating system?
      • A process is an instance of a program that is being executed by the operating system. It consists of the program code, data, and resources allocated by the operating system.

 

    • What is a thread?
      • A thread is the smallest unit of execution within a process. Multiple threads can run concurrently within the same process, sharing the same memory space and resources.

       

    • What is deadlock in an operating system?
      • Deadlock is a situation in which two or more processes are unable to proceed because each is waiting for the other to release a resource.

       

    • What is a system call?
      • A system call is a mechanism used by applications to request services from the operating system, such as creating a new process, reading from a file, or allocating memory.

 

    • What is scheduling in an operating system?
      • Scheduling is the process of determining which processes or threads should run on the CPU and in what order. It aims to maximize CPU utilization and throughput while minimizing response time and latency.

       

    • What is a shell in an operating system?
      • A shell is a command interpreter that provides a CLI for interacting with the operating system. It interprets user commands and executes them by invoking the corresponding system programs.

       

    • What is a file descriptor?
      • A file descriptor is a unique identifier used by the operating system to represent an open file or I/O stream. It is an index into the file descriptor table maintained by the kernel.

       

    • What is a context switch?
      • A context switch is the process of saving the state of a running process or thread and restoring the state of another process or thread so that execution can continue from where it left off.

       

    • What is a daemon in Unix-like operating systems?
      • A daemon is a background process that runs continuously, typically providing services or performing tasks, such as managing hardware devices, handling network requests, or performing system maintenance.

       

    • What is a file permission in Unix-like operating systems?
      • File permissions in Unix-like operating systems determine who can access a file and what actions they can perform on it, such as reading, writing, or executing.

       

    • What is a shell script?
      • A shell script is a text file containing a series of commands that are executed by the shell interpreter. It allows users to automate repetitive tasks and perform complex operations by writing scripts.

       

    • What is a filesystem hierarchy standard (FHS)?
      • FHS is a standard that defines the directory structure and organization of files in Unix-like operating systems. It helps ensure compatibility and consistency across different distributions.

       

    • What is a boot loader?
      • A boot loader is a program that manages the boot process of a computer. It loads the operating system into memory from storage devices, such as hard drives or SSDs, and transfers control to the kernel.

       

    • What is a page fault?
      • A page fault is an exception raised by the operating system when a process accesses a memory page that is not currently in physical memory. It triggers the loading of the required page from disk into memory.

 

  • What is a shell prompt?
    • A shell prompt is a character or string displayed by the shell to indicate that it is ready to accept user input. It typically includes information such as the current directory, hostname, username, or other metadata.

 

  • CPU: Central Processing Unit
  • RAM: Random Access Memory
  • GPU: Graphics Processing Unit
  • OS: Operating System
  • GUI: Graphical User Interface
  • CLI: Command-Line Interface
  • HDD: Hard Disk Drive
  • SSD: Solid State Drive
  • USB: Universal Serial Bus
  • LAN: Local Area Network
  • WAN: Wide Area Network
  • VPN: Virtual Private Network
  • URL: Uniform Resource Locator
  • HTML: Hypertext Markup Language
  • CSS: Cascading Style Sheets
  • HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol
  • HTTPS: Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
  • IP: Internet Protocol
  • TCP: Transmission Control Protocol
  • DNS: Domain Name System
  • FTP: File Transfer Protocol
  • JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group
  • PDF: Portable Document Format
  • HTML5: Hypertext Markup Language version 5
  • API: Application Programming Interface
  • BIOS: Basic Input/Output System
  • PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect
  • GUI: Graphical User Interface
  • IDE: Integrated Development Environment
  • SDK: Software Development Kit
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