Final answer:
An application implemented as a set of threads is a concurrent programming concept where different parts of a program run simultaneously in the same memory space, sharing resources and improving efficiency, but requiring careful management to avoid concurrency issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
An application implemented as a set of threads refers to a design where different parts of a program run simultaneously, sharing the same memory space, which is a concept in concurrent programming. Threads are the smallest sequence of programmed instructions that can be managed independently by a scheduler, which is part of the operating system. This programming paradigm can improve the efficiency of an application because it can perform multiple operations at the same time. It's commonly used in scenarios where tasks can be performed in parallel, such as handling multiple user requests on a web server or processing different parts of a large dataset.
For example, in a web application, multiple threads can be used to handle concurrent user sessions, allowing the server to process multiple requests at the same time without having to start separate instances of the application. This approach helps in resource sharing and improves performance. However, developers must manage threading carefully to avoid concurrency issues like race conditions or deadlocks, where two or more threads are unable to proceed, blocking each other indefinitely.