Os Process Management Questions Medium
A process and a program are two distinct concepts in the context of operating system process management.
A program refers to a set of instructions written in a programming language that performs a specific task. It is a passive entity stored on a storage medium, such as a hard disk or flash drive. A program is typically an executable file that can be run by the operating system or a user.
On the other hand, a process is an active entity that represents the execution of a program. When a program is executed, it becomes a process. A process is a dynamic entity that includes the program code, data, and resources required to execute the program. It is managed by the operating system and has its own memory space, execution context, and system resources.
In summary, a program is a static set of instructions, while a process is the dynamic execution of those instructions. A program becomes a process when it is loaded into memory and executed by the operating system. Multiple processes can be created from a single program, allowing for concurrent execution and multitasking.