What is the primary purpose of an operating system?

The primary purpose of an operating system is to manage hardware resources. An operating system acts as an intermediary between users and the computer hardware, coordinating the use of the hardware components such as the CPU, memory, storage devices, and peripheral devices like printers and scanners. By efficiently managing these resources, the operating system ensures that various software applications can run smoothly and without conflicts.

In addition to managing hardware resources, the operating system is responsible for handling processes, memory management, file system management, and user interface interaction. This foundational role allows applications to operate by providing them with the necessary resources and services while abstracting the complexities of the underlying hardware.

Other choices, such as coding applications, providing internet access, or running antivirus software, are not the primary functions of an operating system. While some operating systems may include tools or features for these tasks, they are typically executed as applications that run on top of the operating system rather than being the core purpose of the operating system itself.