Explanation:
Multitasking is an operating system feature that allows multiple processes to run concurrently by sharing the CPU. This enables the system to perform multiple tasks efficiently, improving user experience and system productivity.

The two main types of multitasking are preemptive multitasking and cooperative multitasking. In preemptive multitasking, the operating system decides which process gets CPU time and for how long, interrupting processes as needed. In cooperative multitasking, processes voluntarily yield control of the CPU.

Modern operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux use preemptive multitasking for better system control and resource management. Multitasking ensures efficient CPU utilization and responsiveness for user applications.

Formal Definition:
Multitasking is an operating system capability that allows multiple processes or tasks to execute concurrently by sharing CPU time through scheduling algorithms.

Additional Information:
Multitasking systems rely heavily on scheduling algorithms like Round Robin, Priority Scheduling, and Shortest Job Next to allocate CPU time to processes fairly and efficiently. These algorithms determine the order and duration of process execution based on predefined criteria.

While multitasking improves system responsiveness, it may also lead to challenges like deadlocks and race conditions. Proper process synchronization and scheduling mechanisms are essential to mitigate such issues.