What is the Difference Between Time Sharing and Multitasking

The main difference between time sharing and multitasking is that time sharing allows multiple users to share a computer resource simultaneously using multiprogramming and multitasking while multitasking allows a system to execute multiple tasks or processes simultaneously.

The operating system works as the interface between user applications and hardware. It manages input and output devices, performs process and memory management, file handling and many other tasks. Moreover, operating systems use various method to increase the performance and to use computing resources efficiently. Time sharing and multitasking are two such methods.

Key Areas Covered

1.  What is Time Sharing
     – Definition, Functionality
2. What is Multitasking
     – Definition, Functionality
3. Relationship Between Time Sharing and Multitasking
     – Outline of the Association
4. Difference Between Time Sharing and Multitasking
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Multiprogramming, Multitasking, Time Sharing  

What is Time Sharing 

Time sharing is a method that allows multiple users to share resources at the same time. Multiple users in various locations can use a specific computer system at a time. Several terminals are attached to a single dedicated server with its own process. Therefore, the processor executes multiple user programs simultaneously. In other words, the processor time is shared between multiple users at a time. The processor allows each user program to execute for a small time quantum. Moreover, time sharing systems use multiprogramming and multitasking. Multiprogramming is the process of switching the processor between several programs.

Operating systems that allows time sharing provides various advantages. These systems give equal opportunity to execute every task.  Moreover, the waiting time of the CPU is minimum. Therefore, the user programs provide outputs within minimum time. On the other hand, it is difficult to maintain to secure the programs and data. There can also be issues in data communication. Thus, these factors cause reliability issues.

What is Multitasking

Multitasking is the process of performing multiple tasks at the same time. For example, multiple applications execute in a computer simultaneously. Browser, word application, calculator, etc. can execute at the same time. Thus, this kind of functionality is called multitasking.

Even though most modern computers support multitasking, the system can execute a specific number of tasks at a time. It is because when there are multiple tasks, each task requires more resources. Thus, this can cause a decrease in system performance. Therefore, an adequate number of tasks executes at a time. Overall, multitasking helps to improve the productivity of the system.

Relationship Between Time Sharing and Multitasking

• Time sharing systems use multitasking.

Difference Between Time Sharing and Multitasking

Definition

Time sharing is the sharing of a computing resource among many users by means of multiprogramming and multitasking at the same time whereas multitasking is the concurrent execution of multiple tasks or processes over a certain period of time. Thus, this is the main difference between time sharing and multitasking.

Functionality

While time sharing allows multiple users to use a computer system at a time, multitasking allows multiple tasks or processes to use a computer system at a time. Hence, this is the functional difference between time sharing and multitasking.

Conclusion

The main difference between time sharing and multitasking is that time sharing allows multiple users to share a computer resource simultaneously using multiprogramming and multitasking while multitasking allows a system to execute multiple tasks or processes simultaneously.

References:

1.” Time-sharing.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 21 Oct. 2001, Available here.
2.”Computer Multitasking.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, Available here.
3.”Operating System | Types of Operating Systems.” GeeksforGeeks, 31 July 2018, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1.”Time Sharing System model picture” By Bp2010.heriadi – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2.”Application-level multitasking” By Jeff Meisel – Meisel, J. Task Parallelism, Connexions Web site, Nov 28, 2007 (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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