What is the main purpose of operating system services?

The main purpose of operating system services is to provide standardized functions for software applications. Operating systems act as intermediaries between application software and the hardware of a computer. They offer a range of services, including file management, process management, memory management, and security services, which allow applications to operate without needing to understand the underlying hardware details directly. This standardization simplifies the development of software applications, as developers can rely on a consistent set of functions and system calls provided by the operating system. By using these services, application developers can focus more on functionality rather than the complexities of hardware interaction.

While communicating with external hardware, encrypting sensitive data, and designing user interfaces are important aspects related to operating systems, they are more specific functions rather than the overarching purpose of the various services an operating system provides to facilitate application development and execution.