Explain the difference between process and thread in the context of multithreading.

Understanding the Difference between Process and Thread in Multithreading

In the realm of multithreading, it is essential to grasp the distinction between a process and a thread. Both are fundamental units of execution, but they serve different purposes and operate in distinct ways.

Process:

• A process is an independent program that runs in its own memory space.
• It has its resources, such as memory, file handles, and system states.
• Processes are isolated from each other and communicate through inter-process communication mechanisms like pipes or sockets.
• Creation of a process incurs significant overhead due to the need to allocate memory and resources.

Thread:

• A thread is a lightweight unit of execution within a process.
• Threads share the same memory space and resources of the process that created them.
• Threads can communicate directly with each other through shared memory space, making data sharing more efficient.
• Creation of a thread is faster and consumes less system resources compared to creating a process.

In summary, processes are standalone entities with their resources, while threads are lightweight workers that share resources within a process. Understanding the difference between processes and threads is crucial for effective multithreading programming and resource management.