What is the Difference Between Multiprocessing and Multithreading?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between multiprocessing and multithreading lies in how they achieve multitasking and their resource usage:
- Multiprocessing:
- Involves running multiple processes in parallel, with each process potentially executing on a separate CPU.
- Increases computing power by adding CPUs to the system.
- Each process has its own address space and resources.
- Suitable for tasks that can be divided into independent processes.
- Classified into Symmetric and Asymmetric Multiprocessing.
- Multithreading:
- Refers to the ability of a processor to execute multiple threads concurrently, where each thread runs a process.
- Increases computing power by creating multiple threads of a single process.
- All threads share the same code, data, and files, but run on different registers and stacks.
- Useful for IO-bound processes, such as reading files from a network or database.
- Not classified into any categories.
In summary, multiprocessing involves running multiple separate processes in parallel, while multithreading involves executing multiple threads within a single process. Multiprocessing is more suitable for tasks that can be divided into independent processes, whereas multithreading is useful for IO-bound processes.
Comparative Table: Multiprocessing vs Multithreading
Here is a table comparing the differences between multiprocessing and multithreading:
| Feature | Multiprocessing | Multithreading |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A system with more than one processor, where each processor can run one or more threads. | A system where multiple threads of a single process are executed simultaneously. |
| Purpose | Increases computing power by adding CPUs. | Increases computing power by creating multiple threads of a single process. |
| Creation | Process creation is time-consuming and resource-specific. | Thread creation is economical in time and resource. |
| Memory | Allocates separate memory and resources for each process or program. | Shares a common address space among all threads. |
| Classification | Can be symmetric or asymmetric. | Not classified. |
| Pickling | Relies on pickling objects in memory to send to other processes. | Avoids pickling. |
| Use Case | Suitable for CPU-bound processes. | Useful for I/O-bound processes, such as reading files from a network or database. |
In summary, multiprocessing is useful for CPU-bound processes and involves running multiple processes simultaneously, while multithreading is suitable for I/O-bound processes and involves running multiple threads of a single process simultaneously. Multithreading is more economical in terms of resource usage and time, whereas multiprocessing requires more resources and time for process creation.
- Multithreading vs Multitasking
- Process vs Thread
- Multiprogramming vs Time Sharing Systems
- Processor vs Microprocessor
- Runnable vs Thread
- Job Scheduling vs CPU Scheduling
- Threading vs Waxing
- Parallel vs Distributed Computing
- RAM vs Processor
- Threading vs Tweezing
- Dual Core vs Quad Core
- CPU vs RAM
- Semaphore vs Mutex
- Motherboard vs Processor
- Clock speed vs Processor speed
- Core vs Processor
- CPU vs GPU
- Microprocessor vs Microcontroller
- Microprocessor vs Microcontroller