What Is Multiprocessing? – Definition, Architecture & Examples

1. Multiprocessing :

Multiprocessing is the ability of a system to support more than one processor at the same time. Each processor can run a different program, or multiple processes of the same program. Multiprocessing is often used to achieve parallelism, which is when multiple processors work on different parts of a task at the same time.

2. What Is Multiprocessing? :

Multiprocessing is the ability to have multiple processors working on different parts of a single task, in order to speed up the overall processing time.

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In order to take advantage of multiprocessing, a computer must have more than one processor. These days, most computers have at least two processors, and many have four or more.

Multiprocessing can be used for various tasks, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific calculations. It can also be used to speed up overall system performance, by spreading the processing load across multiple processors.

There are two main types of multiprocessing: symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) and asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP). SMP involves having multiple processors working on the same task, while AMP involves having each processor working on a different task.

AMP is often used in servers, where each processor can be dedicated to a different task, such as handling web requests, database queries, or email. This can lead to better overall performance, as each processor can be optimized for its specific task. 

3. The Benefits of Multiprocessing :

Multiprocessing is a form of parallel processing in which two or more processors work together to execute a task. This type of processing is often used to speed up computationally intensive tasks by breaking the work down into smaller pieces that can be processed simultaneously.

Multiprocessing can be used to execute multiple tasks concurrently, or to distribute a single task across multiple processors. In the former case, each processor works on a different task, while in the latter case, each processor works on a different part of the same task. Multiprocessing can provide a significant speedup for certain types of tasks, as it allows multiple processors to work on the same problem at the same time.

There are two main types of multiprocessing: symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) and asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP). SMP involves multiple processors working together on the same task, while AMP involves multiple processors working on different tasks. SMP is often used to speed up computationally intensive tasks by breaking the work down into smaller pieces that can be processed simultaneously. AMP is often used to distribute a single task across multiple processors.

4. The Drawbacks of Multiprocessing :

Multiprocessing comes with a few drawbacks. One is that it can be difficult to debug. When a program is split into multiple processes, it can be hard to track down where errors are occurring. Another drawback is that multiprocessing can use up a lot of memory. When multiple processes are running, each process will have its own memory allocation. This can lead to memory issues if the processes are not managed properly. 

5. Multiprocessing in the Real World :

Multiprocessing is a feature of some operating systems that allows multiple programs to run simultaneously. Each program is given its own process, which is a separate instance of the operating system that can run its own programs.

Multiprocessing can be used to speed up computationally intensive tasks by distributing the work among multiple processors. It can also be used to run multiple tasks that are not computationally intensive, but which need to be done concurrently, such as reading from and writing to different files.

Multiprocessing is not without its challenges, however. One challenge is that each process has its own memory, which can lead to memory contention if the processes are trying to access the same data. Another challenge is that processes can communicate with each other, but they need to use special techniques to do so, such as shared memory or message passing.