2.12 Process Creation and Termination in OS | fork(), exec(), wait()

2.12 Process Creation and Termination in OS | fork(), exec(), wait()

Process management is a core concept in the Operating System full course, and it revolves around how a process is created, executed, and terminated. A process is simply a program in execution, and the operating system controls its entire lifecycle. In UNIX and Linux based systems, process creation and termination are mainly handled using system calls like fork, exec, wait, and exit. These system calls help manage parent and child processes, allocate resources, and ensure smooth execution within the OS.

The fork system call is responsible for process creation in OS. When fork is called, it creates a child process that is almost an exact copy of the parent process, including code, data, heap, and stack. Both processes continue execution from the same point, but they can be differentiated using the return value of fork. To run a different program, the child process uses the exec system call, which replaces its memory image with a new program while keeping the same process ID. This fork and exec combination is widely used in Linux process management, especially in command line environments.

Process termination in operating systems is handled using the exit system call, while coordination between parent and child processes is achieved using wait. When a parent process calls wait, it pauses execution until the child process finishes and returns its exit status. This prevents zombie processes and helps the operating system clean up resources efficiently. Together, fork, exec, wait, and exit form the backbone of process management system calls and clearly explain the process lifecycle in OS, making them essential topics in any operating system tutorial or computer science OS course.

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Видео 2.12 Process Creation and Termination in OS | fork(), exec(), wait() канала Shree Learning Academy