Final answer:
A thread is a dispatchable unit that enables a processor to handle multiple tasks by allowing sequential execution and interruptibility. Threads enhance computing efficiency and facilitate concurrent multi-threading on multicore processors.
Step-by-step explanation:
A thread is a dispatchable unit of work that executes sequentially and is interruptible so that the processor can turn to another thread. Threads are essential for modern computing systems to efficiently handle multiple tasks.
Unlike entire processes, threads share resources with other threads of the same process which makes context switching between them more efficient.
This efficiency comes from the ability of the operating system's scheduler to select which threads should be run at a given time and to use features like multi-threading on multi-core processors wherein different threads can run concurrently on separate cores.
A thread is a dispatchable unit of work that executes sequentially and is interruptible so that the processor can turn to another thread.
Threads are a fundamental concept in computer science and operating systems. They allow for concurrent execution of multiple tasks within a single process.
For example, in a multi-threaded program, you can have one thread handling user input while another thread performs calculations in the background.