Which OS function deals with organizing and controlling access to files on storage devices?

• A. Network routing
• B. Application compilation
• C. File and disk management
• D. Web browsing

Answer: (C)

Organizing and controlling access to files on storage devices is handled by file and disk management. The file system is the part of the OS that arranges data into files and directories, stores metadata like permissions and timestamps, and enforces who can read or modify each item. Disk management covers how data is stored on physical storage, including partitioning, mounting, tracking free space, and allocating disk blocks, so access to files is efficient and secure. Together, these functions provide the structure, security, and storage organization that allow the system to manage files across different storage devices.

Other options don’t fit this role: network routing is about directing data across networks, not organizing files on a local disk; application compilation is the process of turning code into executable programs; web browsing is a user-facing activity that relies on multiple subsystems but isn’t the OS function responsible for file organization and access control.