kernel

kernel

The nucleus of an operating system. It is the closest part to the machine level and may activate the hardware directly or interface to another software layer that drives the hardware. The kernel orchestrates the entire operation of the computer by slicing time for each system function and each application as well as managing all the computer's resources. It typically resides in memory at all times. See microkernel, monolithic kernel, kernel space and kernel panic.

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kernel

1. the edible central part of a seed, nut, or fruit within the shell or stone

2. the grain of a cereal, esp wheat, consisting of the seed in a hard husk

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kernel [′kərn·əl]

(atomic physics)

An atom that has been stripped of its valence electrons, or a positively charged nucleus lacking the outermost orbital electrons.

(botany)

The inner portion of a seed.

A whole grain or seed of a cereal plant, such as corn or barley.

(computer science)

A computer program that must be modified before it can be used on a particular computer.

The programs that form the most essential part of a computer's operating system.

(mathematics)

For any mapping ƒ from a groupAto a groupB, the kernel of ƒ, denoted ker ƒ, is the set of all elementsaofAsuch that ƒ(a) equals the identity element ofB.

For a homomorphismhfrom a groupGto a groupH, this consists of all elements ofGwhichhsends to the identity element ofH.

For Fredholm and Volterra integral equations, this is the functionK(x,t).

For an integral transform, the functionK(x,t) in the transformation which sends the function ƒ(x) to the function ∫K(x,t)ƒ(t)dt=F(x).

null space

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kernel - (Note: NOT "kernal"). 1. The essential part of Unix or other operating systems, responsible for resource allocation, low-level hardware interfaces, security etc. See also microkernel. 2. An essential subset of a programming language, in terms of which other constructs are (or could be) defined. Also known as a core language.