What is the main job of an Operating System related to hardware?

The main job of an Operating System (OS) in relation to hardware is to manage and allocate resources among the hardware components. An operating system acts as an intermediary between the user applications and the hardware, ensuring that each application gets the necessary resources—such as CPU time, memory space, and access to input/output devices—while also maintaining overall system performance and stability.

By managing hardware resources, the OS can handle multiple tasks and processes efficiently, preventing conflicts and ensuring that each piece of hardware operates correctly within the system. This includes scheduling processes, managing memory allocation, and handling device management for peripherals like printers and disk drives. Therefore, the role of the OS in allocating and managing these resources is crucial for a functioning and responsive computer system.

While physically controlling hardware may seem relevant, that function is typically managed by drivers and firmware rather than directly by the OS. Similarly, disabling hardware is not a primary aspect of managing resources, and ensuring hardware compatibility is a consideration but not a systematic part of resource allocation—or the primary role of the OS regarding hardware management.