From the course: Java Threads

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Multitasking vs. multithreading

Multitasking vs. multithreading - Java Tutorial

From the course: Java Threads

Multitasking vs. multithreading

- [Instructor] In the very early days of computing, a computer could run only one program or application at a time. That is, there could be one process at a time. But modern day computers can run multiple programs or applications at the same time. This is made possible with something we call multitasking. A program has many tasks in it that can be executed as parts or portions. So what the CPU and the operating system does is it executes a portion of one application for a little bit of time, and then quickly switches to another application, and executes a portion or another task of that, and so on for the other applications. And then comes back to the first application and executes another portion of it. This switching happens so fast that the user feels as if the applications are running at the same time. But really, the system only runs one program task, or portion of a program, at a given time. This is multitasking…

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