What is the primary purpose of an operating system?

The primary purpose of an operating system is to manage computer hardware and software resources. This includes overseeing the hardware components such as the CPU, memory, storage devices, and input/output devices, as well as coordinating the execution of applications. The operating system serves as an intermediary between users and the computer hardware, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and that multiple programs can run simultaneously without conflict.

While running applications is an important function, it is a subset of the broader role the operating system plays in managing resources. The user interface is indeed a crucial aspect of how users interact with the system, but it is one of many components that rely on effective resource management. Additionally, while providing internet connectivity is a vital function of many operating systems today, it is not the core purpose; rather, it is an application of the system's resource management capabilities. Thus, the comprehensive function of resource management establishes the operating system as a foundational element of computing.