többszálúságot

Többszálúság, often translated as multithreading, is a computing concept that allows a single process to execute multiple threads concurrently. A thread is the smallest sequence of programmed instructions that can be managed independently by a scheduler. By dividing a program into multiple threads, it can perform several tasks simultaneously, improving efficiency and responsiveness.

In a multithreaded program, different threads can run on different CPU cores, achieving true parallelism. If only one CPU core is available, the operating system rapidly switches between threads, giving the illusion of simultaneous execution, known as concurrency. This is managed by a thread scheduler, which allocates CPU time to each thread.

Multithreading is commonly used in applications where responsiveness is crucial, such as graphical user interfaces, where one thread can handle user input while others perform background tasks like data processing or network communication. It is also prevalent in server applications to handle multiple client requests concurrently.

However, multithreading introduces complexities. Developers must carefully manage shared resources, like memory, to prevent race conditions where the outcome of a computation depends on the unpredictable timing of multiple threads. Synchronization mechanisms, such as mutexes and semaphores, are employed to ensure that threads access shared data in a controlled and orderly manner. Errors in thread management can lead to deadlocks, where threads are blocked indefinitely, waiting for resources held by each other. Despite these challenges, multithreading remains a powerful technique for optimizing program performance and user experience.