Question

Process (in Operating System) is a:

• A. reusable resource
• B. variable timer
• C. program in execution
• D. allocation and de-allocation of memory

Hint:

Distinguish between a program and a process. A program is a static file on a disk (e.g., `chrome.exe`). A process is what is created in memory when you run that program. You can have multiple processes of the same program running simultaneously.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Define a process.
In computing, a program is a static set of instructions. A process is the active execution of a computer program by one or more threads. It encompasses the program's code and its ongoing activity.

Step 2: Examine the provided choices. 
(A) A reusable resource, such as hardware (e.g., a printer) or software (e.g., a library), is available to multiple processes but is not a process itself. 

(B) A variable timer manages time within the operating system; it is not a process. 

(C) "Program in execution" accurately describes a process, representing the dynamic running of a program's code. 

(D) Memory allocation and deallocation are OS functions, often for a process, but are actions, not the process itself. 

Conclusion: The correct definition is a program in execution.