WGU D386 Hardware and Operating
Systems Essentials Exam Questions and
Correct Answers| 2026 Updated
operating system
system software that acts as a "go-between", allowing computer hardware and other software
to communicate with each other
What is the purpose of a computer operating system?
It functions as a resource manager.
Which kind of software are Mac OS X and Windows 10 programs?
Operating system (OS)
Which operating system allows for its source code to be modified and redistributed?
Android is an open-source mobile operating system; therefore, source code is available, and
anyone can modify and redistribute it.
Cloud-based operating systems
primarily manages the operation of one or more virtual machines within a virtualized
environment.
,What is a feature of cloud-based operating systems?
They are primarily stateless.
System calls
unique set of services provided by operating systems for use by applications and have to be
accounted for by different operating systems.
Application Programming Interface (API)
A set of software routines that allows one software system to work with another.
Why do applications designed to work on one operating system not work on a different
operating system?
Unique system calls
single-user systems
multitasking systems, found in laptops and workstations
mobile device operating systems
provides single-user and multitasking at a scaled-down level due to power and memory
limitations
,Basic resources OS organizes before users can give a computer instructions:
1. Processor
2. Storage
3. Devices
4. Input/Output
5.Memory
Mainframe Systems
large, fast, and powerful, used for high transaction processing and complex computations; used
by corporations and government agencies
network server systems
designed and named for a specific purpose such as database servers, web servers, and print
servers
real-time systems
designed to direct CPU access immediately when needed or required
Embedded control systems
specialized operating systems designed to control a single piece of equipment or machinery
, distributed systems
geared toward allocating process power, programs, files, and databases to network users
Application Software
software program that helps you use the computer to do particular tasks
Drivers
instructs a particular OS on how to access a piece of hardware
version
particular revision of a piece of software, normally described by a number that tells you how
new the product is in relation to other versions of the product
source code
actual code that defines how a piece of software works
Open Source
Software that is created for free use by everyone
Systems Essentials Exam Questions and
Correct Answers| 2026 Updated
operating system
system software that acts as a "go-between", allowing computer hardware and other software
to communicate with each other
What is the purpose of a computer operating system?
It functions as a resource manager.
Which kind of software are Mac OS X and Windows 10 programs?
Operating system (OS)
Which operating system allows for its source code to be modified and redistributed?
Android is an open-source mobile operating system; therefore, source code is available, and
anyone can modify and redistribute it.
Cloud-based operating systems
primarily manages the operation of one or more virtual machines within a virtualized
environment.
,What is a feature of cloud-based operating systems?
They are primarily stateless.
System calls
unique set of services provided by operating systems for use by applications and have to be
accounted for by different operating systems.
Application Programming Interface (API)
A set of software routines that allows one software system to work with another.
Why do applications designed to work on one operating system not work on a different
operating system?
Unique system calls
single-user systems
multitasking systems, found in laptops and workstations
mobile device operating systems
provides single-user and multitasking at a scaled-down level due to power and memory
limitations
,Basic resources OS organizes before users can give a computer instructions:
1. Processor
2. Storage
3. Devices
4. Input/Output
5.Memory
Mainframe Systems
large, fast, and powerful, used for high transaction processing and complex computations; used
by corporations and government agencies
network server systems
designed and named for a specific purpose such as database servers, web servers, and print
servers
real-time systems
designed to direct CPU access immediately when needed or required
Embedded control systems
specialized operating systems designed to control a single piece of equipment or machinery
, distributed systems
geared toward allocating process power, programs, files, and databases to network users
Application Software
software program that helps you use the computer to do particular tasks
Drivers
instructs a particular OS on how to access a piece of hardware
version
particular revision of a piece of software, normally described by a number that tells you how
new the product is in relation to other versions of the product
source code
actual code that defines how a piece of software works
Open Source
Software that is created for free use by everyone
