What is the Difference Between Process and Thread?

The main difference between a process and a thread lies in their representation of a program in execution and their resource usage. Here are the key differences between processes and threads:

1. Definition: A process refers to the execution of a program, while a thread is a segment of a process. A process can have multiple threads.
2. Lightweight/Heavyweight: Threads are lightweight, meaning they consume fewer resources compared to processes, which are heavier.
3. Termination Time: Processes take more time to terminate, while threads take less time to terminate.
4. Creation Time: Processes take more time for creation, while threads take less time for creation.
5. Isolation: Processes are mostly isolated, meaning they do not share memory or resources with other processes. On the other hand, threads within the same process share memory and resources.
6. Context Switching: Context switching between processes takes more time compared to context switching between threads, as threads share memory and resources.
7. Communication: Communication between processes requires more time compared to communication between threads, as threads share memory and resources.

In summary, processes and threads are both components of a program in execution, but they differ in terms of resource usage, isolation, creation, and termination time. Processes are heavyweight and mostly isolated, while threads are lightweight and share resources with other threads within the same process.

Comparative Table: Process vs Thread

Here is a table highlighting the main differences between processes and threads:

In summary, processes are programs in execution, while threads are segments of a process. Processes are not lightweight and have separate memory spaces, whereas threads are lightweight and share memory. Threads generally take less time for creation and termination compared to processes, and they require less time for context switching.