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GCSE Computer Science/Paper 1/Operating Systems

Memory management and multitasking

The purpose and functionality of operating systems: Memory management and multitasking

1.5.1 Operating Systems

Practise exam questions

Operating Systems — Note 3 of 6

What you need to know

The OS manages memory by allocating sections of RAM to different programs and tracking which parts are in use. Multitasking allows multiple programs to run seemingly simultaneously.

What to know

  • When programs close, their RAM space is freed and overwritten by other tasks.
  • The OS ensures programs get the memory and processing time they need without interfering with each other.

Key terms

Memory Management

The OS allocates sections of RAM to programs, tracks what is in use, and frees memory when programs close.

Multitasking

Running more than one program at the same time by rapidly switching between tasks, giving each a small slice of processor time.

Exam technique

  • Tip:Multitasking does not mean programs truly run simultaneously on a single core — the OS switches between them so fast it APPEARS simultaneous.

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Revise another OCR GCSE topic: Utility software

Operating Systems

Note 3 of 6

  1. 1User interface, Memory management and multitasking, Peripheral management and drivers, User management, File management
  2. 2User interface
  3. 3Memory management and multitasking
  4. 4Peripheral management and drivers
  5. 5User management
  6. 6File management
Topic overview

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