Difference between Operating System and Kernel

A software that manages all hardware and software resources.

The core part of an OS that handles communication between hardware and software.

Provides a user interface, manages applications, security, and system resources.

Handles system-level tasks like process management, memory management, and hardware control.

Users directly interact with the OS through interfaces like GUIs or command lines.

The kernel operates in the background, with no direct user interaction.

The OS is a complex system that includes several components (user interface, file system, etc.).

The kernel focuses only on fundamental system processes and resource management.

Includes kernel, file system, user interface, utilities.

Only manages memory, processes, and hardware.

The OS manages high-level resource allocation and distribution among various processes and applications.

The kernel performs low-level tasks like memory allocation, process scheduling, and device management.

Errors in the OS can often be fixed without affecting the entire system (e.g., application crashes).

Errors in the kernel can result in system crashes or a complete halt since it controls critical system functions.

The OS provides user-level security, such as password protection, access control, and encryption.

The kernel enforces security at a system level, controlling access to hardware and managing permissions for processes.

There are many types of operating systems (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux, real-time OS).

Kernels are mainly categorized into monolithic kernels, microkernels, and hybrid kernels.

The OS allows running multiple applications and processes simultaneously.

The kernel is responsible for task scheduling and process prioritization, ensuring multitasking functionality.

The OS handles communication between applications and system hardware.

The kernel ensures smooth communication between the hardware and system processes through device drivers.