CyberAnalogy —Operating System (OS) vs Kernel

Let’s start by basic definitions;

An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.

Examples: Windows OS, Linux OS, MacOS.

A kernel is a computer program at the core of a computer’s operating system that always has complete control over everything in the system.

Examples: Windows NT kernel, Linux Kernel, XNU Kernel.

Kernel objects are data structures managed by the operating system kernel that represent system resources

Example: files, processes, threads, events, mutexes and more.

Having that said, let’s dive into the analogy!

An easy way to remember the differences is to analogize the OS as a car with all it’s components including the engine, wheels, mirrors, etc. while the kernel is the engine that runs the car.

In addition, user land would be the driver, and kernel land is the engine box.

If the user would like to executes a function that requires privileges then the user land function will translate to a kernel function such as: driver turns the steering wheel to the right for the car to turn right.