Programs and processes
An operating system manages a program's execution as a process.
Key knowledge
A program is code; a process is an executing instance with machine state, including accessible memory, registers and associated I/O information. An operating system can share a CPU over time among processes, preserving state when it switches execution.
Conditions and scope
- This is the process abstraction in the stated general-purpose operating-system model.
- Concurrency on one CPU does not imply simultaneous execution of instructions; scheduling and resource limits affect execution.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
An operating system manages a program's execution as a process.
2026-10-10 · Independent Physics and Measurement reference editor (AI editorial bounded review). Exact bounded introductory reference claims and this practical concept inventory are approved after closure. Existing university/research proof and source scopes remain separate; no universal knowledge-completeness or experimental-validation assertion.
Foundational review
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial inspection of this new compact reference entry, its equations, applicability, sources and knowledge connections.
Sources from other places
Agreement within this scope
An executing program has saved state; scheduling shares CPU time by switching that state.
Concurrency does not require simultaneous execution.
UNSW Sydney, School of Computer Science and Engineering
- COMP1521 · Processes (25T1) AustraliaEnglish
What is a process?, slide 2; Process state, slide 4; Time-sharing/context switching, slides 13–15
- COMP1521 · Processes (25T1)
Entry details
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- foundation-info-processes
- Revision
- foundations-audit.1
- Structured reference record
- Foundational core completion