fundamental piece of software - manages computer hardware & provides services for running applications
acts as an intermediary btwn computer hardware & user applications, handling tasks eg memory management, process management, file management, device management
eg Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
provide user interface (UI) thru which users interact w/ computer thru graphical user interface (GUI) / command-line interface (CLI)
2. Utilities:
software programs designed to perform specific tasks related to system management, maintenance, or optimization.
enhance functionality of operating system / perform tasks not directly handled by it
eg antivirus software, disk management tools, backup utilities, file compression programs, system diagnostics tools, and network utilities.
may be included as part of the operating system or installed separately as standalone applications.
3. Systems Software:
broader category of both operating systems and utilities & other types of software that support the operation of computer systems.
any software essential for the operation of computer hardware and provides a platform for running applications.
In addition to operating systems and utilities, systems software may include device drivers, firmware, programming tools etc
plays a critical role in enabling efficient and reliable operation of computer systems & facilitating development and execution of software applications.
operating systems = core software that manages computer hardware and provides services for running applications
utilities = specialized software tools for system management & maintenance
systems software r both operating systems and utilities