Thread is a single sequence stream within a process. Threads have same properties as of the process so they are called as light weight processes. Threads are executed one after another but gives the illusion as if they are executing in parallel. Each thread has different states.
Similarity between Threads and Processes –
Only one thread or process is active at a time
Within process both execute sequential
Both can create children
Both can be scheduled by the operating system: Both threads and processes can be scheduled by the operating system to execute on the CPU. The operating system is responsible for assigning CPU time to the threads and processes based on various scheduling algorithms.
Both have their own execution context: Each thread and process has its own execution context, which includes its own register set, program counter, and stack. This allows each thread or process to execute independently and make progress without interfering with other threads or processes.
Both can communicate with each other: Threads and processes can communicate with each other using various inter-process communication (IPC) mechanisms such as shared memory, message queues, and pipes. This allows threads and processes to share data and coordinate their activities.
Differences between Threads and Processes –
Resources: Processes have their own address space and resources, such as memory and file handles, whereas threads share memory and resources with the program that created them.
Scheduling: Processes are scheduled to use the processor by the operating system, whereas threads are scheduled to use the processor by the operating system or the program itself.
Creation: The operating system creates and manages processes, whereas the program or the operating system creates and manages threads.
Communication: Because processes are isolated from one another and must rely on inter-process communication mechanisms, they generally have more difficulty communicating with one another than threads do. Threads, on the other hand, can interact with other threads within the same programme directly.
