What is the difference between a single-user and multi-user operating system?

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What is the difference between a single-user and multi-user operating system?

A single-user operating system is designed to be used by only one user at a time. It allows the user to have exclusive control over the system resources and provides a personalized computing environment. Examples of single-user operating systems include Microsoft Windows and macOS.

On the other hand, a multi-user operating system is designed to support multiple users simultaneously. It allows multiple users to access and utilize the system resources concurrently. Each user may have their own user account and can perform tasks independently. Examples of multi-user operating systems include Linux and Unix.

The main difference between these two types of operating systems lies in their ability to handle multiple users. While a single-user operating system is focused on providing a dedicated computing environment for a single user, a multi-user operating system is designed to facilitate the sharing of resources and enable multiple users to work on the system concurrently.