Process (computing)

A process is a running instance of a computer program with its own execution state and allocated resources. The operating system schedules processes and isolates their address spaces.

Process control block: An operating-system data structure that stores information needed to manage a process. It records the process state and resources the operating system needs to suspend or resume it.
Program: A set of instructions and associated data that can be stored and executed by a computer. A program is passive code; a process is one executing instance of it.
Coroutine: A computation that can suspend and resume execution while retaining its local state. Coroutines can switch cooperatively without requiring a separate operating-system process.
Fork (system call): A Unix system call that creates a child process by duplicating the calling process. Fork is a classic mechanism for creating a new process.
Multiprocessing: The use of multiple processing units or execution contexts to run tasks concurrently or in parallel. Processes are a common unit of work in systems that run tasks concurrently.
Context switch: The act of saving one execution context and restoring another so a processor can change tasks. It lets a processor pause one process and resume another.
Thread (computing): A sequence of execution within a process that shares the process's memory and resources. Threads execute inside a process while sharing its address space.
Container (computing): An isolated environment for running applications that shares the host operating system kernel. A container groups and isolates processes without virtualizing a full machine.
Exec (system call): A family of Unix system calls that replaces a process's program with a new executable. Exec changes what a process runs while preserving its process identity.
Memory protection: Hardware and operating-system mechanisms that prevent unauthorized memory access. Per-process address spaces make memory protection between programs practical.

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