What is a Multitasking Operating System?


Did you know?

Almost all the operating systems use multitasking systems! 


In the world of operating systems, multitasking operating systems play a crucial role. 


This is a crucial operating system concept among all other concepts. The term multitasking operating system refers to the users accomplishing more than one task at a time. 


Though, this concept has much more to hold for a user! 


If you are keen to know more about it, this blog post is curated just for you. 


Read till the end to fill your knowledge bank!



What do you know about multitasking operating systems?


In computer systems, the term ‘multitasking’ will be employed. It is the logical extension of a multiprogramming system which allows multiple applications to run effectively. 


In an operating system, multi-tasking enables the user to execute versatile tasks at any given point of time. An operating system reminds you where you can do these jobs and enables you to switch them when the data gets lost. 


Although, in the case of early operating systems, they were able to run multiple programs at a time, multitasking in this case is not supported completely. So, any single software may use the whole CPU of the computer to complete the task. 


The user is unable to do all other operations like opening and shutting of the windows as the basic operation capabilities like copying files may get disabled. As the modern operating system is capable of providing the task to run the programs simultaneously, operating systems can be operated concurrently to each other. 



Types of multitasking operating systems


There are certain types of multitasking operating systems which every user should know:


Preemptive multitasking: These systems are the core feature of all the unix operating systems which ranges from Solaris to Linux to other modern versions of the window. 


This allows your computer system to be more reliable and allows each of the processes to run smoothly in the operating system and will get the regular time of the operating system.


The operating system allows you to deal with the external events like incoming data as these events will require an immediate attention of one or more of the processes in a function. 


Cooperative multitasking: This is a technique that allows you to run two or more programs in order to cooperatively share all the processing time for the host processors. 


This is also known as the ‘time-sharing multitasking’ operating system in a processing queue which must equally allocate all the processor's resources in the given time.



Characteristics of a multitasking operating system


Various features of the multitasking operating system are:


  • Context switching: It occurs when an operating system execute more than a single job than it normally does

  • Hardware interruption: The multitasking operating system will receive messages so as to signify that the peripheral in a hardware do require attention.

  • Time Sharing: It allows you to use the single computing resources with multiple users at a time. It means that your computer is having the capability to switch instantly between the users 

  • Process allocation: It helps in the processes as a process cannot change data of any process within the main memory 

  • Real time: This allows for the design of a real-time computing, where there are so many unrelated external operations which requires control of the single processor systems 

  • Multiprocessing: The multitasking operating system will use one or more CPUs to handle the single task. It require the operating system divide the tasks in between the multiple processors 

  • Memory Swapping: This is called as the technique that offers more memory that there will be physically on a system by keeping the portion of the primary memory into the secondary storage 




Advantages of a multitasking operating system


There are certain advantages of the multitasking operating system that you as a user should know:


  • Timesharing: One of the main tasks of the multitasking system is that all its tasks are given a considerable amount of time with executing actions that results in the no waiting time for a CPU 

  • Handles multiple users: It can handle multiple users to run all types of tasks at the same time without any type of glitches. 

  • Protected memory: The unauthorised applications will not be given the permission to overuse the memory by coming to the outcome that the memory will be better managed in your operating system

  • Effective virtual memory: If the program gets delayed with any input or output interrupting as the program will not run on a virtual memory. Once an input or output operation will be completed, the program will be back with the RAM.



Disadvantages of a multitasking operating system


Just like there are certain disadvantages of computer networks, there are certain limitations of the multitasking operating system. 


  • Dependency on a processor: Despite the multitasking operating system, system performance will be fully dependent on the processor specifications. Hence, any type of lower spec in the processor makes the program slower. Thus, these processors may not process some heavy duty programs at a given time 

  • CPU Overheating: In your multitasking system, a processor will be busy because of the carrying out of multiple operations. Therefore, more demand will be required as in the case of heat generation from a CPU as it will incur. 

  • Limitations of the memory: In the disadvantages of computer systems, you should know that the running of the multiple applications will be at the same time, the memory may become overloaded with so many programs. Each model can have different types of RAM and the more memory will be overloaded which means that the user can experience more lagging. 



Wrapping Up 


Know about the concept of multitasking operating systems in-depth and get to know about it with the help of our blog post where we have tried to cover all the related concepts. 


The concept is often asked from the aspirants in the technical interview to test their knowledge.


So prepare well in advance and get ready to excel at your interview!

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