P2 explain the purpose of operating systems

What is an operating system and what does it do?

An OS (Operating System) is a base piece of software that controls the system and its operations, directs the flow of data and information, uses file management to control files and handles the execution and processing of programs. It controls the functions of the hardware and serves as an interface between the computer and the user using icons and pointers to enable effective GUI control for the user.  An OS will have built-in security features such as Firewalls that enable secure data transmission without external security applications. Memory management is also handled by the OS, this is allocating computer memory to certain applications.