The type of software that manages hardware resources in a computer system is called an operating system (OS). The OS acts as an intermediary between users and the computer hardware, facilitating the execution of applications and providing essential services for managing hardware components, such as the CPU, memory, storage, and input/output devices. Examples of operating systems include Windows, macOS, and Linux. By coordinating hardware resources, the OS enables multiple applications to run simultaneously and ensures that system resources are allocated efficiently, contributing to overall system performance.