Module 2~8 min
Processes and Applications
When you open a program, the operating system starts something called a process to actually run it.
What You'll Learn
- What a process is
- How the operating system manages multiple processes
- What a task manager shows you
What Is a Process?
A process is a running instance of a program. Every app you open -- a browser, a music player, a game -- becomes one or more processes that the operating system tracks and manages.
Multitasking
Modern computers appear to run many programs at once by rapidly switching between processes, giving each one small slices of the CPU's time.
Example
While music plays in the background, you can still browse the web -- the operating system is quickly switching between the music process and the browser process, faster than you can notice.
Key Concepts
ProcessMultitaskingTask Manager
Key Takeaways
- A process is a running instance of a program
- The operating system manages many processes at the same time
- Tools like a task manager let you see and manage running processes
Knowledge Check
What do we call a running instance of a program?