Systemproces

Systemproces, also known as system process, is a term used in computing to describe processes that are part of the operating system itself rather than user applications. These processes typically start at boot and run with elevated privileges to provide core services and to manage hardware, memory, and basic input/output operations.

The exact nature of a system process varies by operating system. In Windows, the System process runs in kernel mode and hosts essential kernel threads and drivers; it is usually listed as System with a low process ID and is not a conventional user program. In Linux and other Unix-like systems, there is no single "system" process in the same sense. The kernel operates in privileged mode, while the first user-space process (such as init or systemd, PID 1) provides the base set of system services and manages other processes.

Core responsibilities common to system processes include hardware abstraction, interrupt handling, memory management, process scheduling, and the orchestration of system services such as logging, networking, and device drivers. Some components run inside the kernel; others run as privileged user-space services under the control of the system manager.

Because system processes operate with high privileges, they are critical to stability and security. They are protected by the operating system and are common targets for malware attempting to impersonate them. Terminating or misconfiguring these processes can destabilize or crash the system.

Administrators monitor system processes to ensure reliability and security. Tools such as Task Manager, ps and top, or Activity Monitor help identify resource usage and anomalies, while logs and service managers reveal startup order and dependencies.