A system software component that is external to the operating system kernel. If the phrase is used to refer to the operating system itself, it is redundant because an operating system "is" software.

Just about every piece of technology has some form of an operating system – desktops, laptops, mobile phones, and servers, to name just a few. The Merriam-Webster definition of an operating system?

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I track enterprise software application development & data management. Your computer has an operating system, or OS. You may be ...

When someone buys a new smartphone, often they're preoccupied with the camera specs or the size of the screen or its storage capabilities. It's easy to overlook one of the most foundational aspects of ...

The computer's master control program. When a computer is turned on, a small "boot program" loads the operating system. Although additional system modules may be loaded as needed, the main part, known ...