?? Threads vs Processes: Key Differences Explained!

In software development, understanding Threads and Processes is crucial for building efficient applications. Here’s a breakdown:

?? What is a Process?

- A Process is an independent program in execution with its own memory space and system resources (CPU, memory).

- Processes don’t share memory by default and need special mechanisms for communication (IPC like pipes or sockets).

- Switching between processes (context switching) is slower due to the overhead of saving/restoring states and memory mapping.

?? What is a Thread?

- A Thread is the smallest unit of execution within a process.

- Threads share the memory of the process they belong to, making communication between them fast and efficient.

- Thread switching is faster since threads within the same process use the same resources.

???? How They Differ:

1. Memory:

- Processes have separate memory spaces.

- Threads share the same memory of the process

2. Overhead:

- Process switching is heavier and slower.

- Thread switching is lighter and faster.

3. Crash Impact:

- If a process crashes, it doesn’t affect others.

- If a thread crashes, it could crash the whole process.

4. Communication:

- Processes require complex methods like IPC to communicate.

- Threads can communicate more easily via shared memory.

?? When to Use Them:

- Processes are best for tasks that require isolation and reliability, such as running different services or apps.

- Threads are perfect for tasks requiring parallel execution within the same app (e.g., handling multiple client requests on a web server).

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