What is Kernel?

The kernel is the fundamental part of an operating system. It acts as a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level. The Linux kernel, created by Linus Torvalds in 1991, is open-source and powers everything from smartphones (Android) to supercomputers.

Key responsibilities include process management, memory management, device drivers, and system calls. The kernel operates in a privileged mode (kernel space) separate from user applications (user space).