Final answer:
Transient operating system code refers to code that b. comes and goes as needed, being loaded into memory only when necessary for certain functions and then removed to free up space.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Transient operating system code is code that' refers to characteristics of certain types of code within an operating system (OS). The correct answer to this question is: b) Comes and goes as needed. Transient code is part of the operating system that is loaded into memory as needed and is not permanently resident in memory. This type of code is executed only when necessary to perform certain functions and is removed from the memory afterwards to free up space, unlike resident code which remains in the memory for the duration of the system's operation.
One common example of transient code in an operating system is device drivers that are loaded into memory when a device is connected and are no longer required once the device has been disconnected. Transient code helps in the efficient management of system resources by ensuring that only necessary code is loaded into memory at any given time.