The kernel is the core component of an operating system and plays a crucial role in managing and controlling various aspects of the computer's hardware and software. Its functions are diverse and essential for the proper functioning of the operating system and the applications that run on it. Here are the key functions of the kernel:
Process management:
Scheduling processes and threads on the CPUs.
Creating & deleting both user and system process.
Suspending and resuming processes
Providing mechanisms for process synchronization or process communication.
Memory management:
Allocating and deallocating memory space as per need.
Keeping track of which part of memory are currently being used and by which process.
File management:
Creating and deleting files.
Creating and deleting directories to organize files.
Mapping files into secondary storage.
Backup support onto a stable storage media.
I/O management:
to manage and control I/O operations and I/O devices
Buffering (data copy between two devices), caching and spooling.
i. Spooling - Within differing speed two jobs. Eg. Print spooling and mail spooling.
ii. Buffering - Within one job. Eg. Youtube video buffering
iii. Caching - Memory caching, Web caching etc.
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