Which of the following components does the operating system control?

The operating system primarily controls hardware components in a computer system. It acts as an intermediary between the user applications and the physical hardware, managing resource allocation and ensuring that hardware components such as the CPU, memory, and storage devices function correctly and efficiently. This includes handling tasks related to input/output operations, device management, and memory management.

When the operating system gains control over hardware, it provides a range of functionalities, including the ability to communicate with devices through device drivers, manage the system's stability, and allocate resources based on the demands of running applications. Without an operating system to manage these hardware interactions, applications would struggle to utilize the hardware effectively.

While the operating system does interface with software and can influence network settings, those elements are not directly controlled in the same way that hardware components are. Firmware, on the other hand, is software that is closely tied to specific hardware and is often managed at a level beneath the operating system, further emphasizing the role of the operating system in controlling hardware directly rather than other components.