kernelanduserland
Kernel and userland, often referred to as user space, are the two fundamental layers of most modern operating systems. The kernel is the privileged core that manages hardware resources, memory, process scheduling, and low-level services. Userland comprises all non-privileged programs, libraries, and services that run on top of the kernel, including applications, shells, and system daemons.
Kernel space vs user space: The kernel operates in kernel mode with full access to hardware, while
Interaction: System calls provide a defined interface for userland programs to request kernel services such as
Architectures: OS designs vary in how much responsibility resides in the kernel. Monolithic kernels place most
Drivers and services: Device drivers are often located in kernel space to enable direct hardware access and
Summary: The kernel and userland together implement an operating system, with the kernel enforcing protection and