In Linux, a process is an instance of a running computer program. It's the basic unit of execution where a program is executed. Every process in Linux is assigned a unique Process ID (PID) which is used to identify the process.
Processes in Linux can be either in the foreground or background. Foreground processes are those that interact with the user, while background processes run without user intervention.
Linux processes inherit attributes and resource limits from their parent processes, and new processes can be created using the fork() system call. Child processes can further replace their memory space with a new program using the exec() system call.
Processes can be managed using various commands like ps (to display information about processes), top (to show currently running processes), kill (to terminate processes), and many others.
Linux provides a robust set of process management features, allowing for efficient multitasking and resource utilization. The Linux scheduler handles process scheduling, ensuring that CPU time is allocated effectively among running processes.
Overall, processes in Linux form the backbone of the operating system, enabling it to manage various tasks and run multiple programs concurrently.