Thread
A thread is the smallest unit of execution within a process in computing, allowing a program to perform multiple tasks concurrently by sharing the same memory space and resources. It enables parallel processing and improved responsiveness in applications, particularly in multi-core systems. Threads are fundamental to modern software development for handling tasks like I/O operations, user interfaces, and background computations efficiently.
Developers should learn about threads to build responsive and high-performance applications, especially in scenarios requiring concurrency such as web servers handling multiple requests, real-time data processing, or GUI applications that must remain interactive during long-running tasks. Understanding threads is crucial for optimizing resource usage in multi-core processors and avoiding issues like deadlocks or race conditions in concurrent programming.