Lexicon Entry
Context Switch
The procedure by which the OS kernel saves the execution state (registers, program counter, memory maps) of the currently running thread and loads the state of the next scheduled thread, allowing a single CPU to share time among multiple tasks.
Related Knowledge & Cross-References
Guide
The Anatomy of Execution: Processes, Threads, and Memory Isolation
A conceptual deep dive into what it means for code to execute. We explore the fundamental differences between a process (a resource container) and a thread (an execution unit), and how the OS isolates them.