Operating system facts for kids
An operating system (or OS) is like the brain of a computer. It's a special set of computer programs that lets you use your computer. The OS helps all the parts of the computer work together. It also lets you run other programs and apps.
Think of it this way: without an operating system, your computer is just a bunch of metal and wires. The OS makes it come alive! Some common operating systems you might know are Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux. Your phone also has an OS, like Android or iOS.
The operating system has many important jobs. It makes sure that different programs can share the computer's CPU (the main brain). It also manages the computer's memory and how programs use it. The OS helps you see things on your screen and use input devices like a keyboard or mouse. It also lets your computer connect to the internet and other devices.
How Operating Systems Started
The very first computers were huge and hard to use. One of the earliest was the ENIAC computer. To make ENIAC do something, people had to change its wires and switches. This was a very basic way of "operating" the machine. It was not like the operating systems we use today.
The first operating system that felt more modern was called UNIX. It was created in 1969 by scientists at Bell Labs. UNIX was special because it had a small main part, called a kernel. It also had many small programs that could be put together. This made it easier for users to work with the computer. Many ideas from UNIX are still used in operating systems today.
Related pages
Images for kids
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OS/360 was used on most IBM mainframe computers beginning in 1966, including computers used by the Apollo program.
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PC DOS was an early personal computer OS that featured a command-line interface.
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Mac OS by Apple Computer became the first widespread OS to feature a graphical user interface. Many of its features such as windows and icons would later become commonplace in GUIs.
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Ubuntu, desktop Linux distribution
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File systems allow users and programs to organize and sort files on a computer, often through the use of directories (or "folders").
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A screenshot of the bash command line. Each command is typed out after the 'prompt', and then its output appears below, working its way down the screen. The current command prompt is at the bottom.
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A screenshot of the KDE Plasma 5 graphical user interface. Programs take the form of images on the screen, and the files, folders (directories), and applications take the form of icons and symbols. A mouse is used to navigate the computer.
See also
In Spanish: Sistema operativo para niños
