What is the Kernel? - Question & Answer Book

 Answer: In computing, the kernel is the main component of most computer operating systems; it is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level. The kernel’s responsibilities include managing the system’s resources (the communication between hardware and software components). Usually as a basic component of an operating system, a kernel can provide the lowest-level abstraction layer for the resources (especially processors and I/O device) that application software must control to perform its function. A more common definition is that the OS is the one program running at all times on the computer, usually called the kernel, with all else being application programs.