With Macs you have multiple options. The first being much easier than a typical Windows PC.
1) Boot into Recovery mode (Cmd + R), then use Internet Recovery [1] to install OS X. This works even if your HDD or SSD is completely blank. All Macs from around mid-2010 onwards are supported. [2]
2) Download the latest OS X installer from the Mac App Store, then either use the bundled 'createinstallmedia' command-line app to create a bootable USB flash drive [2] or a third-party app called DiskMaker X [3].
Apple provides Recovery Disk Assistant, which is more or less the same thing.
Also, when the SSD in my Macbook Air failed, I was able to netboot their internet recovery thing, which let me install OS X on a USB3 hard drive. Pretty cool.
Apple provides Recovery Disk Assistant, which is more or less the same thing.
I see. They have that stuck into Disk Utility now. One point to Apple.
Disk Utility is a bit kludgy nowadays, though, and it seems they're not doing as good a job as MS publicizing the tool. (Too small a sample size here, but I ran across the MS tool by accident while searching/browsing. With Apple, a human had to tell me.)
