Which of the following is a function of an operating system?

• A. Serves as a hyperlink navigation tool
• B. Provides a platform for different applications to run
• C. Translates high-level language into assembly
• D. Compiles user programs into machine code

Answer: (B)

An operating system provides a platform for different applications to run by managing the hardware and offering services that programs rely on. It abstracts hardware details, handles CPU scheduling, manages memory, coordinates input/output, and exposes APIs so software can run, multitask, and interact with devices without needing to know the specifics of the underlying hardware.

Hyperlink navigation tools belong to browsers or user interfaces, not the core system that runs programs. Translating a high-level language into assembly is the job of a compiler or assembler. Compiling programs into machine code is also a compiler task. The OS does not compile code; it runs already-built executables and manages their execution.