An operating system, or OS, is the software that manages the hardware resources of a computer and provides common services for computer programs. It is responsible for the interaction between the user and the computer, and between the computer and its peripherals, such as printers and scanners.

The OS provides a platform on which applications can run. It also includes a set of utilities that allow the user to manage files and folders, install and uninstall software, and configure the system.

The first operating system for computers was developed in the early 1960s for the IBM 704 mainframe. It was …