Final answer:
The operating system acts as an intermediary between software applications and hardware, managing and coordinating various hardware components such as the processor, memory, storage, and peripheral devices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The operating system helps manage hardware such as the processor, memory, storage, and peripheral devices by providing a layer of abstraction between the hardware and the software applications. It acts as an intermediary that allows software programs to communicate with and utilize the hardware resources effectively. For example, when an application needs to read data from a storage device, it sends a request to the operating system, which then initiates the necessary operations to retrieve the data from the storage device and provide it to the application.
Similarly, when a user interacts with a peripheral device like a printer or a mouse, the operating system manages the communication between the device and the software, ensuring that the appropriate instructions are sent to the device and the relevant data is received.
Overall, the operating system plays a crucial role in resource allocation, scheduling, and management, ensuring that different hardware components work together smoothly and efficiently to support the functioning of software applications.