The File Allocation Table (FAT) is a file system developed by Microsoft that uses a simple table structure to keep track of file locations on disk storage. FAT was originally designed for floppy disks and has evolved into versions such as FAT16 and FAT32 for hard drives and external storage. The File Allocation Table (FAT)…
A file system is the method and structure by which an operating system manages, stores, and organizes data on storage devices. It provides an interface for users and applications to create, read, write, and manage files on disks. A File System is a method for storing and organizing computer files and the data within them.…
A semaphore is a synchronization tool used in operating systems to manage concurrent access to shared resources. It is essentially a variable that can take on integer values and is used to signal resource availability between processes or threads. A semaphore is a synchronization primitive used in operating systems for controlling access to a common…
Deadlock is a situation in operating systems where two or more processes are unable to proceed because each is waiting for the other to release resources. It typically occurs in concurrent systems when multiple processes require exclusive access to shared resources such as memory, I/O devices, or files. Deadlock is a state in a multi-process…
Virtual memory is a memory management technique that allows the execution of processes that may not be completely in the main memory (RAM). It creates an illusion for users that there is almost unlimited memory by using both hardware and software to map logical addresses to physical addresses. The operating system divides virtual memory into…
A thread is the smallest unit of execution within a process in an operating system. It represents a sequence of executable instructions that can run concurrently with other threads within the same process. Threads share the process’s resources, such as code, data, and files, but each thread has its own stack, program counter, and set…
A process is a fundamental concept in operating systems (OS) representing a program in execution. It encompasses the program code, its current activity, and the necessary resources such as memory, files, and I/O devices required for its execution. Processes are dynamic entities that transition through various states, including new, ready, running, waiting, and terminated as…
An Operating System (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. It acts as an intermediary between the computer hardware and the application software, ensuring that the software can interact with the hardware without directly accessing it. The OS manages essential tasks such as memory management,…