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Multitasking is a computer function that allows a computer's operating system to run multiple programs or tasks seemingly at the same time by rapidly switching between them. It creates the illusion of simultaneous execution by sharing resources like the CPU, allowing users to switch between applications like a web browser and a word processor without closing one to open the other.

How it works

Time-sharing: The operating system allocates a small slice of time to each task. It executes one task for its time quantum before saving its state and switching to the next task in a cycle that repeats very quickly.

Context-switching: To switch between tasks, the system saves the current state of the active task and loads the saved state of the next task. This process is called context-switching.

Benefits

Increased efficiency: Users can work on multiple tasks at once without having to exit one program to start another.

Enhanced flexibility: It allows for more complex and efficient workflows, such as having a calendar open on one screen and a meeting agenda on another.

Parallelism: With modern multi-core processors, true parallelism is possible, where different tasks can execute simultaneously on different cores.