Difference between Operating System and Kernel

Differences Computers Operating System Kernel

Both operating system and Kernel are types of system software. The basic difference between the two is that an operating system is a system software that acts as the interface between the users and the machine, while a kernel is a part of the operating system that converts user commands into machine language.

Read through this article to find out more about operating systems and kernels and how they are different from each other.

What is an Operating System?

Operating System manages a computer and acts as an interface between user and computer. Operating system is the first program that starts when a computer is booted up. The operating system can be understood as a system software. A computer system necessarily requires an operating system to run. It is the first program that loads into main memory when the computer system boots.

The primary function of an operating system is to provide an interface between the user and hardware. It also provides security to resources of the system. There are different types of operating systems available such as single user and multiuser OS, multiprocessor OS, real-time OS, distributed OS, etc.

What is a Kernel?

Kernel is the core component of the operating system and is responsible to convert user commands to machine level language commands. Kernel too is a system software, but it is a part of the operating system.

The primary function of a Kernel is to provide an interface between the application and the hardware. Kernel also helps with memory management, disk management, process management and task management. All operating systems require a Kernel to run. There are different types of kernels such as Monolithic and Microkernel.

Difference between Operating System and Kernel

The following table highlights how an operating system is different from a kernel −

Key	Operating System	Kernel
Type	Operating system is a system software.	Kernel is a part of operating system.
Work	Operating system acts as an interface between user and hardware.	Kernel acts as an interface between applications and hardware.
Main tasks	Ease of doing system operations, security etc.	Memory management, space management, process management and task management.
Basis	A computer needs an Operating System to run.	An Operating System needs a Kernel to run.
Types	Operating Systems can be of different types such as: multiuser, multitasking, multiprocessor, real-time, distributed, etc.	Types of kernels include monolithic kernel and micro kernel.
Boot	Operating System is the first program to load when computer boots up.	Kernel is the first program to load when the operating system loads.

Conclusion

The most significant difference that you should note here is that an operating system acts as an interface between the users and the hardware, whereas a kernel acts as an interface between the hardware and its applications.