What is Thread in Operating Systems?

What is Thread in Operating Systems?

In a process, a thread refers to a single sequential activity being executed. these activities are also known as thread of execution or thread control. Now, any operating system process can execute a thread. we can say, that a process can have multiple threads....

Why Do We Need Thread?

Threads run in parallel improving the application performance. Each such thread has its own CPU state and stack, but they share the address space of the process and the environment.  Threads can share common data so they do not need to use inter-process communication. Like the processes, threads also have states like ready, executing, blocked, etc.  Priority can be assigned to the threads just like the process, and the highest priority thread is scheduled first. Each thread has its own Thread Control Block (TCB). Like the process, a context switch occurs for the thread, and register contents are saved in (TCB). As threads share the same address space and resources, synchronization is also required for the various activities of the thread....

Components of Threads

These are the basic components of the Operating System....

Types of Thread in Operating System

Threads are of two types. These are described below....

Difference Between Process and Thread

The primary difference is that threads within the same process run in a shared memory space, while processes run in separate memory spaces. Threads are not independent of one another like processes are, and as a result, threads share with other threads their code section, data section, and OS resources (like open files and signals). But, like a process, a thread has its own program counter (PC), register set, and stack space....

What is Multi-Threading?

A thread is also known as a lightweight process. The idea is to achieve parallelism by dividing a process into multiple threads. For example, in a browser, multiple tabs can be different threads. MS Word uses multiple threads: one thread to format the text, another thread to process inputs, etc. More advantages of multithreading are discussed below....

Advantages of Thread in Operating System

Responsiveness: If the process is divided into multiple threads, if one thread completes its execution, then its output can be immediately returned. Faster context switch: Context switch time between threads is lower compared to the process context switch. Process context switching requires more overhead from the CPU.  Effective utilization of multiprocessor system: If we have multiple threads in a single process, then we can schedule multiple threads on multiple processors. This will make process execution faster.  Resource sharing: Resources like code, data, and files can be shared among all threads within a process. Note: Stacks and registers can’t be shared among the threads. Each thread has its own stack and registers.  Communication: Communication between multiple threads is easier, as the threads share a common address space. while in the process we have to follow some specific communication techniques for communication between the two processes.  Enhanced throughput of the system: If a process is divided into multiple threads, and each thread function is considered as one job, then the number of jobs completed per unit of time is increased, thus increasing the throughput of the system....

Frequently Asked Questions on Thread in Operating System – FAQs

What is thread state in operating system?...