What is an operating system? What operating system does my iPod, iPhone or iPad has?

Technical definition:

An operating system (OS) is a set of system software programs in a computer that regulate the ways application software programs use the computer hardware and the ways that users control the computer.

Understandable definition

An operating system is the software that “links” the hardware with the human being. It allows the user to interact with the device and “make” the device execute various functions, like make a call, start the music player, etc.

The official operating system for iPod, iPhone and iPad is iOS, formerly iPhone OS.

This operating system was first launched with the initial iPhone 2G and, until then, it was developed and updated to the system we now have on our devices.

iOS is regulary updated in order to bring new functions and bug fixes.

Please note that not all iOS versions can be jailbreaked and/or unlocked, so please be careful when reading the tutorials!