If you’re starting in programming, you’ve probably heard about processes and threads, as both are used to execute tasks simultaneously on our devices. Despite their similarities, they have key differences, and understanding them is essential in our field.
We can define processes as instances of a running program created and managed by the operating system, with exclusive resources and isolated memory addresses. These characteristics provide greater control and security since one process cannot access another’s resources.
Threads, on the other hand, are small execution units within a process that share its resources. This approach allows tasks to be executed simultaneously with better performance and efficiency but makes them less secure and stable. Additionally, if two threads try to access the same resource at the same time, we may face the well-known race condition and deadlock issues, which we will discuss in future articles.
Another significant difference between processes and threads is the computational cost of maintaining them. Every time a new process is created, the operating system must allocate and manage new resources for it. In contrast, since threads share a process’s resources, creating and managing them is much simpler and more efficient.
A great example to understand these concepts is Google Chrome. Whenever we open a new tab, the system creates a dedicated process for it, increasing memory consumption but isolating that tab from the others. This way, one tab’s website cannot access another tab’s data, and if a tab crashes, we can close it without affecting the rest.
The same principle applies to apps. Each application runs in an isolated, dedicated process, which consists of a main thread and multiple secondary threads. The main thread initializes the app and remains active throughout its lifecycle, handling UI updates and priority system tasks.
Secondary threads handle background operations such as file downloads, data updates, and tasks that don’t require user interface feedback. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand their responsibilities and how to use them properly to avoid critical section issues, freezes, or unexpected crashes.
But don’t worry! In upcoming articles, I’ll explain these concepts further and provide practical examples of how to use threads to develop stable and high-performance applications. I’ll see you there!