Concurrent and Parallel Programming: Threads and Processes

Concurrent and Parallel Programming is an essential technique for improving application performance by executing multiple tasks simultaneously. Threads and processes are the fundamental building blocks of this approach. A process is an independent instance of execution, while a thread is a smaller unit within a process, sharing the same memory space. Understanding the difference and how to manage them properly allows you to optimize application efficiency and scalability in environments with high processing demands.

What are Threads and Processes?

A process is a running instance of a program, while a thread is a smaller unit within a process that shares its memory space and can run in parallel.

Differences between Threads and Processes

Processes: They have their own memory space and can run independently.
Threads: They share memory within a process and can run simultaneously.

Example of Using Threads in Python

This code shows how to run multiple threads in Python using the threading library:

import threading

def task():
    print("Executing a thread")

thread1 = threading.Thread(target=task)
thread2 = threading.Thread(target=task)

thread1.start()
thread2.start()

In this example, two threads execute the same function simultaneously.

Conclusion

Understanding thread and process management is essential for developing efficient and optimized applications in high-performance environments.