Which type of software is responsible for managing computer hardware resources?

The correct choice identifies operating system software as the component responsible for managing computer hardware resources. Operating systems serve as an intermediary between users and the computer hardware, allowing users to interact with the system while efficiently managing the hardware resources like the CPU, memory, disk space, and peripheral devices.

Operating systems handle crucial tasks such as process scheduling, memory management, device management, and ensuring that different applications can run concurrently without interfering with each other. By coordinating these hardware resources, the operating system enables applications to function optimally, minimizing conflicts and maximizing efficiency.

In contrast, application software is designed to perform specific user-oriented tasks and relies on the operating system to interact with the hardware. Firmware refers to the low-level software that is embedded directly into hardware devices and provides control for the device’s specific functions. Middleware, on the other hand, acts as a bridge between different software applications, often in networked settings, and does not directly manage hardware resources.