Disk Scheduling
Disk scheduling is an operating system concept that manages the order in which disk I/O requests are serviced to optimize performance and reduce access time. It involves algorithms that determine the sequence of read/write operations on a hard disk or SSD, aiming to minimize seek time and rotational latency. This is critical for improving overall system efficiency, especially in multi-user or high-load environments where disk access is a bottleneck.
Developers should learn disk scheduling when working on system-level programming, operating systems, or performance optimization for applications that involve heavy disk I/O, such as databases, file servers, or data-intensive software. Understanding these algorithms helps in designing efficient storage systems, troubleshooting performance issues, and making informed decisions in environments where disk access patterns impact latency and throughput, like in cloud storage or real-time data processing.