Multithreading creates new threads within an existing process, allowing for more efficient use of computer resources. It can be a more efficient use of system resources, but some believe it could cause conflicts between threads and reduce response time. It remains a viable option for multitasking.
In the computing world, multithreading is the task of creating a new thread of execution within an existing process rather than starting a new process to start a function. In essence, the task of multithreading is to make wiser use of computer resources by allowing resources that are already in use to be used simultaneously by a slight variant of the same process. The basic concept of multithreading has been around for some time, but it gained more attention as computers became more common during the 1990s decade.
This form of time division multiplexing creates an environment in which a program is configured to allow processes to fork or split into two or more threads of execution. Parallel execution of threads within the same program is often touted as a more efficient use of computer system resources, especially with desktop and laptop systems. By allowing one program to handle multiple tasks with a multithreaded model, the system must not allow two separate programs to start two separate processes and use the same files at the same time.
While there are many proponents of multithreading, there are also those who understand the process as potentially harmful to computing activity. Some believe that the time slicing inherent in allowing a fork or thread to separate itself from a running process creates circumstances where a conflict between threads could arise when attempting to share cache or other hardware resources. There is also some concern that the action of multithreading could reduce the response time of every single thread in the process, effectively negating any time savings generated by the configuration.
However, multithreading remains one of the viable options in computer multitasking. It’s not unusual for a processor to allow for both multithreading and the creation of new processes to handle various tasks. This allows the end user all the benefits of context switching, while making the most of available resources.
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