Encyclopedia

Category: Operating System

  • FIFO (First In First Out)

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    Explanation:FIFO (First In First Out) is a simple and straightforward scheduling algorithm used in operating systems and data structures. In this approach, processes are scheduled in the order they arrive, without any prioritization. The first process that enters the queue is the first to be executed. This scheduling technique is analogous to a queue in…

  • Multi-threading

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    Explanation:Multi-threading is a technique that allows multiple threads to execute concurrently within a single process. A thread is a lightweight sub-process that shares resources such as memory, file handles, and code with other threads within the same process but has its own program counter, stack, and registers. Multi-threading improves the efficiency and responsiveness of applications…

  • Multitasking

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    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…

  • Process Control Block (PCB)

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    Explanation:The Process Control Block (PCB) is a crucial data structure in operating systems that stores essential information about a process. It allows the operating system to manage and control processes effectively. Every process in the system is associated with a unique PCB that holds its operational metadata. The PCB contains several fields such as the…

  • System Call

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    Explanation:A system call is a fundamental mechanism that provides an interface between user applications and the operating system. It allows user-level processes to request services from the kernel, such as process control, file management, and communication. Unlike regular function calls, system calls switch the process execution from user mode to kernel mode, granting the process…

  • Interrupt

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    An interrupt is a signal sent to the CPU by hardware or software to indicate that an event needs immediate attention. It temporarily halts the CPU’s current execution and transfers control to a specific interrupt handler. An Interrupt is a mechanism used by hardware or software to interrupt the normal execution of a process in…

  • I/O Management

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    I/O management is a critical function of operating systems responsible for controlling input/output devices and ensuring efficient data exchange between the system and peripherals. I/O Management refers to the component of the operating system responsible for managing input/output operations and facilitating communication between processes and peripheral devices. Formally, I/O management is defined as the coordination…

  • Context Switching

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    Context switching is the process of saving the state of a currently running process and loading the state of the next process to be executed. This allows multiple processes to share the CPU efficiently. Context Switching is the process of saving and restoring the state (or context) of a process or thread during execution, so…

  • Scheduling

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    Scheduling in operating systems involves the efficient allocation of the CPU to processes. The objective is to maximize resource utilization, reduce waiting times, and ensure fair execution of all processes. Scheduling is the method by which an operating system decides which process or thread will be executed by the CPU at any given time. Formally,…

  • Paging

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    Paging is a memory management technique in operating systems where memory is divided into fixed-sized blocks called pages. Correspondingly, physical memory is divided into frames of the same size. Paging is a memory management scheme that eliminates the need for contiguous memory allocation, dividing physical memory into fixed-sized blocks called frames and logical memory into…