AI engineering glossary · Computing foundations
What is kernel?
Kernel: The central part of an operating system that runs with full hardware privileges, managing processes, memory, devices and system calls. Everything else, including user programs, depends on it and is kept separate from it for safety.
Kernel: an example
Linux is technically a kernel, and distributions such as Ubuntu add tools and libraries around it.
Related terms
More Computing foundations terms
- Kilobyte and megabyte
- Latency
- Library
- Load balancer
- Local area network
- Localhost
- Logic gate
- Loopback interface
Where you learn it
Kernel is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.