Definition of MS-DOS: MS-DOS, short for Microsoft Disk Operating System, is an operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation. It was one of the most widely used operating systems during the 1980s and early 1990s, particularly on IBM-compatible personal computers.

Key Features:

• Command Line Interface (CLI): MS-DOS primarily operated through a command-line interface where users typed commands to perform various tasks.
• File Management: It provided basic file management commands such as DIR (directory listing), COPY, REN (rename), DEL (delete), and more.
• Disk Utilities: MS-DOS included utilities for managing disk storage, formatting disks, and checking disk integrity.
• Memory Management: It supported memory management functions to allocate system resources efficiently.
• Boot Process: MS-DOS booted from a disk containing system files (usually a floppy disk) and loaded into the computer's memory.

Evolution:

• MS-DOS was initially released in 1981 as 86-DOS by Seattle Computer Products. Microsoft later acquired the rights to it and developed it into MS-DOS.
• Various versions of MS-DOS were released, including MS-DOS 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and 6.22, each introducing new features and improvements.
• MS-DOS eventually evolved into Microsoft Windows, which provided a graphical user interface (GUI) on top of the MS-DOS architecture.

Legacy:

• MS-DOS played a crucial role in the early days of personal computing, laying the foundation for subsequent operating systems.
• Despite being largely replaced by modern operating systems with graphical interfaces, MS-DOS still holds historical significance and is sometimes used in embedded systems and legacy applications.
• It paved the way for the development of the Windows operating system, which became Microsoft's flagship product and dominant OS in the PC market.

Conclusion: MS-DOS, though now considered outdated, was instrumental in the evolution of personal computing. Its simple yet powerful command-line interface and foundational features left a lasting impact on the computer industry, shaping the way for future operating systems.