What is the difference between processes and threads in a multithreading environment?

What is the difference between processes and threads in a multithreading environment?

When discussing multithreading in a software development context, it is important to understand the differences between processes and threads. Here's a breakdown of the key distinctions:

Processes:

• Processes are independent entities that run in separate memory spaces.
• Each process has its own address space, data, and resources allocated to it.
• Processes communicate with each other through inter-process communication mechanisms such as pipes or sockets.
• Creating a new process is resource-intensive as it requires duplicating the entire process structure.
• Processes are heavyweight in comparison to threads.

Threads:

• Threads are light-weight sub-processes that share the same memory space.
• Threads within the same process can communicate directly through shared data.
• Creating a new thread is less resource-intensive as threads share the same resources within a process.
• Threads are faster to create and terminate compared to processes.
• Threads are more efficient for parallel processing and improving performance.

In summary, processes are independent entities running in separate memory spaces, while threads are light-weight sub-processes that share the same memory space within a process. Threads are more efficient for parallel processing and improving performance, making them a popular choice for multithreading environments.