The components of an operating system are all created to enable various parts of computer to work concurrently. All types of software must go through an operating system for any of the hardware to be used.
The User Interface
All computers that receive input from users must have a user interface. This component enables the individual to interact with the computer. It makes up the software for the interaction tools such as the mouse, keyboard or touch screen. The two most common types of user interface are the Graphical user interface and the Command-line interface.
The Graphical user interface uses a visual environment that includes buttons, icons, and windows. The Command-line user interface involves the commands of the computer being typed out line-by-line.
The Kernel
A kernel is the main component of majority of operating systems. It connects application software to the computer hardware and manages the resources of the system, executes programs, and assigns memory and other resources. It also manages interrupts, modes, multitasking, file systems, and device drivers.
Networking
Currently, majority of operating systems support various networking procedures, hardware, and the necessary applications. This aspect means that computers that are running completely different operating systems are able to participate in a common network for sharing equipment including printers, scanners, and wired or wireless connections.
Security
A secure computer depends on various technologies working correctly. A modern operating system enables access to a variety of resources that are available to external devices and software operating on the system. The operating system must be able to make a distinction between allowable requests and blocked requests. Some systems differentiate between items that are privileged and non-privileged. Most systems generally request a user identity such as user name.