What acts as the intermediary that executes commands from software?

The operating system functions as the intermediary that executes commands from software. It serves as a crucial layer between application software and the computer hardware, managing the system's resources and allowing different software applications to communicate with the hardware effectively.

When applications run on a computer, they generally make requests for resources—such as CPU time, memory space, or input/output operations—that must be managed efficiently. The operating system interprets these requests, coordinates the execution of programs, and ensures that resources are allocated appropriately. This not only keeps the system stable but also enhances the overall performance by handling multiple applications simultaneously.

In contrast, application software refers specifically to the programs designed to perform tasks for users, such as word processing or web browsing. The processing unit, commonly known as the CPU, actually executes the instructions given by software, but it relies on the operating system to manage how and when those tasks are performed. Firmware is a type of software embedded directly into hardware devices that provides low-level control, but it does not serve as the intermediary for executing commands from general software applications.