What software manages computer resources and provides an interface for applications?

What software manages computer resources and provides an interface for applications?

• A. Firmware
• B. Operating System (OS)
• C. Compiler
• D. Assembler

Answer: (B)

Software that manages computer resources and provides an interface for applications is the operating system. It coordinates how the CPU runs programs, allocates memory, and handles input and output devices, while also enforcing isolation and security between different running applications. The OS also offers a user interface—such as a graphical environment or a command line—and provides APIs or system calls that apps use to read files, communicate over networks, or start other programs without needing to manage hardware directly. Firmware lives on hardware and runs at a very low level, not as the general resource manager for multiple applications. A compiler translates source code into executable instructions, and an assembler converts assembly language into machine code; both are development tools rather than the ongoing software that manages resources and provides the application-facing interface.

Software that manages computer resources and provides an interface for applications is the operating system. It coordinates how the CPU runs programs, allocates memory, and handles input and output devices, while also enforcing isolation and security between different running applications. The OS also offers a user interface—such as a graphical environment or a command line—and provides APIs or system calls that apps use to read files, communicate over networks, or start other programs without needing to manage hardware directly.

Firmware lives on hardware and runs at a very low level, not as the general resource manager for multiple applications. A compiler translates source code into executable instructions, and an assembler converts assembly language into machine code; both are development tools rather than the ongoing software that manages resources and provides the application-facing interface.