Which feature allows an operator to execute one or more computer tasks at a time?

Which feature allows an operator to execute one or more computer tasks at a time?

• A. Scheduling
• B. Multitasking
• C. Virtualization
• D. Paging

Answer: (B)

Multitasking is the ability to run more than one task at the same time. The operating system achieves this by quickly switching between tasks, giving each one a slice of CPU time in a process called time slicing. The scheduler decides which task runs next and for how long, and the system performs context switches to save the current task’s state and load the next task’s state. On a single-core processor, this isn’t true parallel execution, but the rapid switching makes it feel like many tasks are happening at once; on multi-core systems, tasks can actually run in parallel on different cores. Scheduling is the method the OS uses to pick the next task, which supports multitasking but isn’t by itself the feature that lets tasks run concurrently. Virtualization creates separate, independent environments (virtual machines) and isn’t about running multiple tasks within a single OS context. Paging is a memory-management technique that maps virtual memory pages to physical memory and doesn’t govern concurrent task execution.

Multitasking is the ability to run more than one task at the same time. The operating system achieves this by quickly switching between tasks, giving each one a slice of CPU time in a process called time slicing. The scheduler decides which task runs next and for how long, and the system performs context switches to save the current task’s state and load the next task’s state. On a single-core processor, this isn’t true parallel execution, but the rapid switching makes it feel like many tasks are happening at once; on multi-core systems, tasks can actually run in parallel on different cores.

Scheduling is the method the OS uses to pick the next task, which supports multitasking but isn’t by itself the feature that lets tasks run concurrently. Virtualization creates separate, independent environments (virtual machines) and isn’t about running multiple tasks within a single OS context. Paging is a memory-management technique that maps virtual memory pages to physical memory and doesn’t govern concurrent task execution.