Task, Process, and Threads

Computer Organization & Embedded System — Real-Time Operating and Control System, NEC licence examination syllabus (Nepal Engineering Council).

Task, Process, and Threads

Same program, different levels of "aliveness."

Right now, your browser is one process, but it's probably running dozens of threads inside it simultaneously — one for each open tab, roughly speaking. Understanding the difference between "process" and "thread" explains why closing one tab doesn't crash the others.

🧵 Process vs Thread

ProcessHas its own memory space and resources (PCB tracks its state, registers, priority).

ThreadA lighter-weight unit of execution INSIDE a process — multiple threads in one process share the same memory but run independently.

Kernel-level threadsManaged directly by the OS — better for multiprocessing.

User-level threadsManaged by a library without OS awareness — faster to switch, but can't use multiple cores.

💡 Draw the process state diagram (New → Ready → Running → Blocked → Ready → Terminated) — it's asked almost every year in some form.

Syllabus points

Definitions and differences
Process states + transition diagram; PCB
Threads (user vs kernel level)

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