Glossary Entry: DOS

Quick Definition

DOS, short for Disk Operating System, was one of the earliest operating systems available for home computers. Microsoft's version, known as MS-DOS, was the most popular variant.

This operating system was little more than a command line. However, a few years later Microsoft would develop programs that would let the user manage their computer from a graphical interface, and eventually Windows would go from being an optional program to the operating system itself.

Today, programs that were written for DOS are usually run in an emulator, as modern operating systems, including Windows, no longer support them.


Back to the list of technical terms

Back to the Glossary's Table of Contents