Operating System Concepts (Silberschatz, Galvin, Gagne)

"Operating System Concepts," by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne, explains how software manages computer hardware and provides a foundation for running applications. An operating system (OS) acts as an intermediary, coordinating tasks like running programs, managing files, controlling devices, and ensuring security. It abstracts complexities of hardware, allowing users and applications to interact with the computer efficiently and safely without needing to understand hardware details. The book covers core topics such as process management, memory allocation, file systems, and security, providing a comprehensive understanding of how modern computers operate behind the scenes.