Part of the Computing fundamentals glossary:

It is easy to confuse multithreading with multitasking or multiprogramming , which are somewhat different ideas.

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Multithreading is the ability of a program or an operating system process to manage its use by more than one user at a time and to even manage multiple requests by the same user without having to have multiple copies of the programming running in the computer. Each user request for a program or system service (and here a user can also be another program) is kept track of as a thread with a separate identity. As programs work on behalf of the initial request for that thread and are interrupted by other requests, the status of work on behalf of that thread is kept track of until the work is completed.

This was last updated in September 2005
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

Related Terms

Definitions

  • decoupled architecture

    - In general, a decoupled architecture is a framework for complex work that allows components to remain completely autonomous and unaware of each other.� (WhatIs.com)

  • multitasking

    - Multitasking, in an operating system, is allowing a user to perform more than one computer task (such as the operation of an application program) at a time. (SearchCIO-Midmarket.com)

  • multiprocessing

    - Multiprocessing is the coordinated processing of programs by more than one computer processor. (SearchDataCenter.com)

Glossaries

  • Computing fundamentals

    - Terms related to computer fundamentals, including computer hardware definitions and words and phrases about software, operating systems, peripherals and troubleshooting.

  • Programming

    - Terms related to software programming, including definitions about programming languages and words and phrases about software design, coding, testing and debugging.

  • Internet applications

    - This WhatIs.com glossary contains terms related to Internet applications, including definitions about Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery models and words and phrases about web sites, e-commerce ...

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