Thread in Operating System

 Threads and Multi-Threading

What is a Thread:                                                                                                                                    Threads are like smaller parts of a process that can run separately but share the same resources, like memory and files. Each thread has its own program counter, registers, and stack.

Multi-Threading:
Multi-threading is when a process is split into multiple threads to do different tasks at the same time. For example, in a browser, each tab could be a thread. This helps make programs faster and more responsive.

Benefits:

• Responsiveness: A thread can finish its task and give results quickly without waiting for the whole process to finish.
• Faster Switch: Switching between threads is quicker than switching between whole processes.
• Better Use of CPUs: Multiple threads can run on multiple processors, speeding up tasks.
• Resource Sharing: Threads in the same process can share resources like memory and files, making communication easier between them.
• Higher System Throughput: More jobs can be done in less time if a process is divided into threads, improving overall performance.

Types of threading in an operating system

There are two types of threads we can find.

1. User-Level Threads:

   • These threads are created without using system calls, so the kernel doesn’t manage them. Users can easily create and manage these threads. However, if a process with these threads needs help, the kernel will step in.
   • Advantages:
     • Easier to create and manage.
     • Faster switching between threads.
       
     • More efficient because they are simple.
   • Disadvantages:
     • Poor coordination with the kernel.
     • A problem in one thread can block the entire process.

2. Kernel-Level Threads:

   • These threads are recognized and managed by the operating system’s kernel. The kernel keeps track of all these threads and helps manage them, although switching between them takes more time.
   • Advantages:
     • The kernel always knows the state of all threads.
     • Handles processes that block often.
     • Can give more processing time to threads that need it.
   • Disadvantages:
     • Slower than user-level threads.
     • More complex to implement.

Difference Between Process and Thread

References:

hhttps://www.shiksha.com/online-courses/articles/threads-and-multi-threading-operating-system/ttps://www.geeksforgeeks.org/thread-in-operating-system/?ref=gcse_ind

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