Which layer relies on the kernel for operating system services?

The application layer relies on the kernel for operating system services because it is the layer where user applications operate and execute. When applications need to perform operations that require access to underlying hardware resources — such as reading from or writing to files, managing memory, or utilizing network connections — they make system calls to the kernel, which acts as an intermediary between the applications and the hardware. The kernel handles these requests, ensuring that the applications can safely and efficiently interact with the system's resources while maintaining isolation and stability across different processes.

The hardware layer refers to the physical components of a computer system and does not interact directly with software layers. The system configuration layer is not a standard layer recognized in traditional operating system architecture and does not specifically describe services that rely on the kernel. The network layer primarily involves networking protocols and data transmission, which also relies on the kernel for interacting with network hardware but is more focused on communication rather than application services.