What does kernel space primarily manage?

Kernel space primarily manages memory management and system processes because it operates at the core level of the operating system. The kernel is responsible for managing the system's resources, which includes coordinating how memory is allocated and used by various applications and processes. It ensures that memory is allocated efficiently and protects the memory space of different processes to prevent conflicts and crashes.

In addition to memory management, the kernel is also tasked with managing system processes, overseeing their execution, scheduling, and termination. It provides the necessary abstractions and services that allow software applications to interact with the hardware without needing to know the details of the hardware itself. This handling of the system’s core functions is critical for system stability and performance.

Other choices focus on specific aspects of system functionality that are generally handled at a different layer (user space) or involve components that interact with the kernel but are not managed directly by it. For example, user inputs and outputs, network connections and protocols, and storage device performance are typically facilitated through system calls and APIs provided by the kernel but are managed at a higher level in the OS architecture.