OS X

Pre-Sierra Mac software

OS X is the former name for Apple's Macintosh operating system, used from 2001 to 2016 before being renamed macOS.

The X represents the Roman numeral ten, marking a complete redesign from earlier versions.

Pronounced "oh-ess-ten," though many say "oh-ess-ex." My old MacBook still runs OS X.

versions

Jaguar

British luxury car manufacturer

Lion · Mavericks · Yosemite · El Capitan · Sierra · High Sierra · Mojave · Catalina · Big Sur · Monterey

system

Darwin

British naturalist, species theorist

  • UnixMultitasking operating system family
  • kernelSeed or essential core
  • MachSonic speed ratio

bootloader · Gatekeeper · SIP · Rosetta

software

Safari

Apple's web browser

Keynote · iTunes · TextEdit · FaceTime

Apple

Cupertino

Bay Area tech hub

  • Steve JobsApple's co-founder and longtime CEO
  • MacApple's computer line
  • MacBookAluminum portable computer brand

Tim Cook · Mac Pro · Apple Park · macOS · Cocoa · Aqua · Swift · Objective-C · App Store

interface

menu bar

Software command ribbon

  • SpotlightApple's system-wide search
  • AquaProprietary name element
  • widgetsUnspecified manufactured items

fullscreen · desktop · gestures · trackpad · AirDrop

Categories
Opposites
competing operating systems

OS XWindows

Microsoft operating system

Microsoft Windows · Linux · Windows XP · Windows 10 · Windows 7

Apple platform evolution

OS XiOS

Mobile operating system

macOS

Family

OS

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Concrete · Rated G