Systems software
Systems software helps run and maintain the computer. It includes the The software that manages the hardware and software resources in a computer system., A piece of software which controls a peripheral device. and Also known as ‘utilities’. Programs that add functionality to a computer or help it perform better, eg virus protection, password protection, memory management and file compression. .
Operating system
The biggest part of systems software is the operating system. It is an essential part that allows other systems software, and A software program that allows a user to perform a specific task., to communicate with The physical parts of a computer system, eg a graphics card, hard disk drive or CD drive..
All computers have an operating system. They cannot operate without one.
The operating system is needed to perform a number of tasks. It provides a The means by which a user interacts with a computer or device., manages the use of memory and the opening, closing, saving and deleting of files. Most operating systems have features that look after the security of the computer with usernames and passwords.
Examples of operating systems include Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Chrome OS and, on smartphones and tablets, Android and iOS.
