The operating system (OS) is the layer of software between the hardware of a computer and the users.

It manages the input and output of data, and provides essential services such as memory allocation, task scheduling, and network connectivity.

The kernel is a fundamental part of the OS.

It directly interacts with the hardware and provides services to user-level processes and applications.

The operating system can be thought of as the "brain" of the computer

while the kernel is the "heart" of the operating system, providing it with its lifeblood

The OS manages the computer's resources and runs the user's programs

the kernel's job is to manage the resources of the computer so that all of the user's applications can run properly

While the kernel is a part of the OS, they are not interchangeable.