Difference between Concurrent Programming and Parallel Programming in Multithreading

In the context of multithreading, the main difference between concurrent programming and parallel programming lies in how tasks are executed.

Concurrent Programming:

Concurrent programming focuses on designing algorithms that can handle multiple tasks that are being executed in overlapping time periods. This means that multiple tasks make progress in an overlapping manner, but not necessarily simultaneously. In concurrent programming, the tasks may be interleaved to give the illusion of parallel execution.

Parallel Programming:

Parallel programming, on the other hand, involves simultaneously executing multiple tasks on multiple processor cores to achieve true parallelism. In this approach, the tasks are broken down into smaller sub-tasks that can be executed concurrently on different processor cores, enabling faster execution and improved performance compared to concurrent programming.

Therefore, while concurrent programming focuses on managing multiple tasks and sharing resources efficiently in overlapping time periods, parallel programming aims at achieving true simultaneous execution of tasks to leverage the full power of multiple processor cores.