{"id":21656,"date":"2020-01-28T14:38:59","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T14:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/glosario-digital\/windows"},"modified":"2026-09-15T21:50:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T21:50:34","slug":"windows","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/windows","title":{"rendered":"Windows"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"boxpad alignright wp-image-15108 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows-2.png\" alt=\"Windows\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" style=\"margin-top:0;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows-2.png 300w, https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/windows-2-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><strong>Definition:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Windows<\/strong> is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft for personal computers, workstations, and other devices. It manages hardware, files, accounts, networks, and application execution, and provides a graphical interface based on desktops, windows, icons, and menus.<\/p>\n<p>The name does not identify a single version. Microsoft has released different Windows generations and editions for home, professional, educational, and enterprise use. Windows 11 is the current generation for personal computers, while earlier versions have different support cycles or no longer receive standard updates.<\/p>\n<p>Windows uses its own technology base and supports a wide range of manufacturers, processors, peripherals, and programs. This diversity encourages compatibility, but it also means that behavior and available capabilities depend on the computer, edition, drivers, and installed version.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Windows history and versions<\/h2>\n<p>Microsoft introduced Windows 1.0 in 1985 as a graphical environment running on MS-DOS. Over time, Windows changed from a visual layer into a family of complete operating systems. <strong>These periods summarize its main development:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>1985-1994:<\/strong> Windows 1.0, 2.0, and 3.x developed the use of windows, icons, a mouse, and concurrent program execution within Microsoft&#8217;s environment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>1995-2000:<\/strong> Windows 95 introduced the Start menu and taskbar, two elements that continued to define the interface. Windows 98 extended support for hardware, networks, and the internet. In parallel, Windows NT provided an architecture intended for professional environments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>2001-2009:<\/strong> Windows XP brought the home and professional lines together on NT technology. Windows Vista introduced security and interface changes, and Windows 7 refined that foundation with performance and compatibility improvements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>2012-2015:<\/strong> Windows 8 adopted an interface designed for touch screens and strengthened distribution through Microsoft Store. Windows 10 restored a more conventional desktop experience and introduced a continuous update model.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Since 2021:<\/strong> Windows 11 redesigned the Start menu and taskbar, raised hardware requirements, and expanded the integration of services, security, and artificial intelligence. Standard support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, although extended security update programs are available for selected computers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The significance of a version is not limited to its visual changes. Architecture, application compatibility, hardware requirements, and support duration determine whether it can continue to be used and updated.<\/p>\n<h2>Windows components and operation<\/h2>\n<p>Windows coordinates several software layers so that applications can use a computer&#8217;s resources. Its main components include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Kernel and system services:<\/strong> manage memory, processes, devices, communications, and permissions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Drivers:<\/strong> allow Windows to communicate with graphics cards, printers, cameras, storage units, and other components.<\/li>\n<li><strong>File system:<\/strong> organizes folders, documents, applications, and permissions on local or connected drives. NTFS is the usual format for modern installations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interface and File Explorer:<\/strong> provide the desktop, windows, taskbar, Start menu, and tools for navigating the computer&#8217;s contents.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accounts and settings:<\/strong> separate profiles, credentials, preferences, and access levels. They can use local accounts or Microsoft accounts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>APIs and runtime environments:<\/strong> provide functions that allow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/software\">software<\/a> to interact with the system, interface, and hardware.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The graphical interface made many tasks that previously required commands more accessible, but Windows retains console tools such as PowerShell and Command Prompt. It can also include virtualization and Windows Subsystem for Linux to run compatible Linux environments alongside the Windows desktop.<\/p>\n<h2>Editions, applications, and compatibility<\/h2>\n<p>Windows is distributed in editions such as Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education. They share the same system foundation but differ in management, security, virtualization, deployment, and usage rights. Specialized variants also exist for servers, embedded devices, and environments with extended maintenance cycles.<\/p>\n<p>Applications can be installed from Microsoft Store, downloaded from a provider&#8217;s website, or deployed with management tools. Windows supports traditional desktop programs, packaged applications, web applications, and video games. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/browser\">web browser<\/a> provides access to services that operate mainly on the internet, while other applications store and process information locally.<\/p>\n<p>Compatibility is not absolute. An application may require a specific processor architecture, Windows version, library, permission, or driver. Current editions run on compatible x64 and Arm computers, but an old program or peripheral without updated drivers may require emulation, virtualization, or a maintained alternative.<\/p>\n<p>Services such as OneDrive connect the system to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/cloud-computing\">cloud computing<\/a> to synchronize files and settings. This integration depends on the account, connection, available space, and organizational policies; it does not turn all Windows operation into a cloud service.<\/p>\n<h2>Updates and support lifecycle<\/h2>\n<p>Windows Update distributes security patches, fixes, drivers, and new features. In Windows 11, Microsoft publishes cumulative monthly updates and maintains an annual cycle for general feature updates. Each edition and version has its own end-of-service date.<\/p>\n<p>The version number matters because it determines which fixes a device receives. In 2026, Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 remain within the general servicing cycle. Windows 11 version 26H1 is a specialized release preinstalled on selected new devices, not a general update for existing computers. Microsoft maintains the current status of each version on its <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/release-health\/windows11-release-information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows 11 release information<\/a> page.<\/p>\n<p>When a version reaches the end of support, the system may continue to start, but it stops receiving the standard updates scheduled for that edition. Extended support programs have their own conditions and duration and do not indefinitely replace migration to a supported version.<\/p>\n<h2>Security and artificial intelligence<\/h2>\n<p>Windows includes process isolation, accounts with different privileges, a firewall, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Secure Boot, BitLocker encryption, and Windows Hello authentication, depending on the edition and hardware. These capabilities are supplemented by updates, backups, and controls managed by each organization.<\/p>\n<p>Effective security also depends on keeping the system and applications updated, using trusted drivers, and limiting privileges. A device can run a recent version and remain exposed because of incorrect settings, compromised credentials, or vulnerable programs.<\/p>\n<p>Windows 11 integrates artificial intelligence capabilities into Microsoft applications and services. Copilot+ PCs add a neural processing unit to run selected AI workloads on the device, while other functions use remote services. These capabilities can involve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/generative-ai\">generative AI<\/a>, but they are not included on every computer and do not always operate locally.<\/p>\n<p>The availability of Copilot, translation, semantic search, image generation, and other functions depends on the processor, edition, account, language, and region. The official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows<\/a> website lists the platform&#8217;s current capabilities and requirements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Windows is, how it evolved, and how its components, editions, applications, updates, security, and artificial intelligence work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":79721,"template":"","encyclopedia-tag":[301,302],"class_list":["post-21656","encyclopedia","type-encyclopedia","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","encyclopedia-tag-operating-system","encyclopedia-tag-software-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/21656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/encyclopedia"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"encyclopedia-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia-tag?post=21656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}