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Operating systems

3. The Kernel

The kernel has the task of:

  • Loading / Unloading applications from memory
  • Scheduling tasks to run efficiently on the CPU
  • Memory management
  • File storage to and from secondary storage devices such as the hard disk
  • File management
  • Data security

the kernel

 

The kernel within each different type of operating system is responsible for a slightly different blend of tasks.

For example, a 'single user, single application' operating system does not have to deal with networking, whereas the kernel in a network operating system would be responsible for this.

Because memory is such a limited resource on mobile phones, their operating systems require a more efficient memory management kernel as opposed to those running on PCs.

 

Challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you

Click on this link: What is a kernel