What Does an Operating System Do?
This article is being prepared.
Computer World
Explore hardware, data, and how computers work together.
See hardware Understand data Explore computers
8 articles
See what happens from power-on to running a program.
What Happens When You Open a Program?
This article is being prepared.
What Happens When You Turn On a Computer?
This article is being prepared.
How Can a Computer Run Many Programs at Once?
A CPU quickly switches between programs, while multiple cores can process tasks at the same time.
How Does a CPU Execute a Program Step by Step?
A program eventually becomes machine instructions that a CPU can execute.
Why Do Computers Have Desktops and Windows?
A graphical interface lets people use icons, buttons and a mouse instead of typing every command.
Why Does a Computer Sometimes Slow Down?
Common causes include a busy CPU, low memory, slow storage, too many programs or background tasks.
Why Are Programs Loaded from Storage into RAM?
SSD storage keeps data for a long time, while RAM lets the CPU read current data quickly.