Difference between a process and a thread

In computer science, a process is an executing instance of a program that has its own memory space, file system resources, and other system resources. A thread, on the other hand, is a component within a process that can be scheduled for execution by the operating system.

Interactions between processes and threads

Processes can contain multiple threads, which can share the same memory space and resources within the process. Threads in the same process can communicate with each other through shared memory, allowing them to work together on a common task.

Processes, on the other hand, are separate entities that run independently of each other. They can communicate with each other through inter-process communication mechanisms such as pipes, sockets, or files.

Summary

In conclusion, processes and threads are both essential concepts in computer science. Processes are independent entities that contain threads, which can interact with each other within the same process. Threads can share resources and work together on tasks, while processes run independently and communicate with each other through inter-process communication.