What is an operating system (OS)?

• A. Also called 'platform'. Manages the complete operation of your computer or mobile devices and lets you interact with it.
• B. The malware program
• C. A word processor
• D. A web browser

Answer: (A)

An operating system is the software that coordinates all the hardware and software resources of a computer or mobile device and provides the platform you interact with. It manages core tasks like how the CPU is shared between programs, how memory is allocated, how data is stored and retrieved, and how devices (keyboard, screen, printer, network) work together. It also offers the user interface and the services that applications rely on, making it possible to run programs and interact with the device in a smooth, consistent way. Examples include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

The other options describe specific applications or software types, not the system that coordinates everything: a malware program is harmful software, a word processor is for creating documents, and a web browser is for accessing web content. The OS is the foundational layer that enables all of these applications to operate.