What does an operating system provide for application software?

The operating system (OS) serves as a crucial intermediary between the application software and the hardware of a computer. By providing hardware interfaces, the OS allows application software to access and utilize the underlying hardware components, such as the CPU, memory, storage devices, and input/output devices, without needing to manage these interactions directly. This encapsulation streamlines the development process for application software, as developers can focus on creating features and functionality rather than dealing with hardware-specific details.

Other options offered—access to online services, programming languages, and design templates—are not inherent functions of an operating system. While an OS may facilitate connectivity to online services through network drivers, it does not directly provide access to those services. Similarly, programming languages are tools used to create software but are separate from the functions of an operating system. Design templates are related to user interfaces or document formatting, which can be provided by specific applications rather than the operating system itself. Thus, the primary role of the operating system in this context is to provide the necessary hardware interfaces for application software to operate effectively.