Batchkäsittely

Batchkäsittely is a computer processing technique where a series of jobs or tasks are collected and executed by the computer without manual intervention. This contrasts with interactive processing, where a user directly interacts with the system to provide input and receive output in real-time. In batch processing, jobs are submitted to the system in a "batch" and are then processed sequentially or in parallel depending on the system's capabilities.

The primary advantage of batchkäsittely is its efficiency for repetitive tasks and large volumes of data. It allows for the automation of processes that would be time-consuming and error-prone if performed manually. Common applications include payroll processing, billing, end-of-day financial reports, and data backups. By grouping similar tasks together, batch processing can optimize resource utilization and reduce idle time for the computer system.

Historically, batch processing was prevalent in mainframe computing environments where resources were expensive and user interaction was limited. While interactive systems have become dominant for many applications, batch processing remains crucial for specific types of operations that benefit from its systematic and automated nature. Modern batch processing systems often incorporate features for job scheduling, monitoring, and error handling to ensure reliable execution. The concept of batch processing has also influenced distributed computing and cloud-based services, where large-scale data processing tasks are often handled in a batch-like fashion.