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DOS, an acronym for "disk operating system," is a text-based operating system that manages a computer's files and programs. The most well-known version is MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System), which was popular in the 1980s and early 1990s and is operated by typing commands into a command-line interface rather than using a graphical user interface (GUI).

Definition: DOS is a category of operating systems that manage computer functions and data on a disk.

Interface: It uses a command-line interface where users type specific commands to perform tasks like running programs, managing files, and navigating directories.

Popular examples: The most famous versions are MS-DOS and the IBM-branded PC DOS.

Functionality: A DOS operating system handles file management (copying, deleting, editing) and provides the environment for running applications.

Historical context: DOS was the dominant operating system for personal computers before graphical interfaces like Windows became widespread. Today, it is still used in some niche situations and can be run on modern computers through emulators.