What is the Full Form of UNIX ?

UNICS became Unix

UNICS - UNiplexed Information Computing System


It was named as "UNiplexed Information Computing System" because it required the data and address buses to be uniplexed, i.e they were not multiplexed, hence it was named so.

Unix is a powerful, multitasking, multi-user, virtual­-memory computer operating system that has been implemented on a variety of platforms including servers, desktops and laptops. Since its first release in 1969, it has been evolved by a variety of implementers including Apple, IBM and Sun.

The UNIX operating system is made up of 3 basic components: the kernel, the shell and the programs.

  1. Kernel - It allocates time and memory to programs and handles the file storage and communications in response to system calls.
  2. Shell - The shell acts as an interface between the user and the kernel. Before entering into the shell, each user has to go through the basic authentication check.
  3. Program - Everything in UNIX is either a file or a process. A process is a program in execution, identified by a unique PID (process identifier). A file is a collection of data.