Process in Operating System

Front

What is a process in an operating system?

Back

A process is a program in execution, which is an 'active' entity, as opposed to a program, which is a 'passive' entity.

Front

What happens when a binary code is run?

Back

When binary code is run, it becomes a process.

Front

What are the distinct sections of a process in memory?

Back

1. Text Section: Contains executable instructions (read-only). 2. Stack: Contains temporary data like function parameters and local variables. 3. Data Section: Contains global variables. 4. Heap Section: Dynamically allocated memory during runtime.

Front

What is the Process Control Block (PCB)?

Back

The PCB is a structure that stores important attributes of a process, including Process ID, Process State, CPU Scheduling Information, I/O Information, File Descriptors, Accounting Information, and Memory Management Information.

Front

What is the Process ID (PID)?

Back

The Process ID (PID) is a unique number assigned to each process for identification by the operating system.

Front

What are the states of a process?

Back

1. New: Newly created process. 2. Ready: Process is ready for execution. 3. Running: Currently executing process. 4. Wait (or Block): Process is waiting for I/O access. 5. Complete (or Terminated): Process has finished execution. 6. Suspended Ready: Process moved to suspended state when the ready queue is full. 7. Suspended Block: Process moved to suspended state when the waiting queue is full.

Front

What is the purpose of CPU Scheduling Information in the PCB?

Back

It helps the operating system decide which process should run next based on priority levels and scheduling queues.

Front

What does the stack section of a process contain?

Back

The stack contains temporary data such as function parameters, return addresses, and local variables.

Front

What is the role of the heap section in a process?

Back

The heap section is used for dynamically allocated memory during the process's runtime.

Front

What information does the accounting section of the PCB track?

Back

It tracks how long the process has run, the amount of CPU time used, and other resource usage data.