Raster scan and random scan are two of the most popular approaches used to display the pictures and images of objects on the screen. Raster scan is a technique in which a rectangular pattern of the image is captured on screen, whereas random scan is one in which the picture is constructed through an electron beam. Read through this article to find out more about raster scan and random scan and how they are different from each other. What is Rater Scan? In raster scan, the electron beam is swept across the screen, one row at a time from top ... Read More

Both interlaced and progressive scan are types of raster scanning techniques extensively used in analog video systems. The basic difference between interlaced scan and progressive scan is that the interlaced scan employs the scanning of even and odd marked lines of a picture which are displayed consecutively as two isolated fields that are superimposed to show one frame on the screen, while the progressive scan employs a single sweep over the whole picture at a time. In this article, we will discuss the important differences between interlaced and progressive scan. Let's start with some basics of interlaced scan and progressive ... Read More

In this post, we will understand the difference between symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessing −Asymmetric MultiprocessingIn this kind of multiprocessing, the processors are not considered as equal.The task of the operating system is done by the master processor.There is no communication between the processors since they are controlled by the master processor only.In this multiprocessing, process follow the master-slave pattern.The systems are relatively inexpensive.This kind of multiprocessing systems are easier to design.Symmetric MultiprocessingIn this kind of multiprocessing, all the processors are considered equal.The tasks of the operating system are done by individual processors.All the processors communicate with each other since they ... Read More

In this post, we will understand the difference between internal and external fragmentation −Internal FragmentationThe difference between the memory allocated and the space required is known as internal fragmentation.In this fragmentation, fixed-sized memory blocks are used to process data.This process occurs when a method or process is larger than the required memory.The method used in internal fragmentation is ‘best-fit’ block.It occurs when the memory is divided into fixed sized partitions.External FragmentationThe unused spaces that is formed between fragments of non-contiguous memory, which are too small to help with a new process, is known as external fragmentation.It uses variable-sized memory blocks ... Read More

An operating system acts as a bridge between the hardware and applications. The CPU is that part of the system which handles all the tasks of the system. Sometime such situations arise, when it is required to interrupt the currently running task and take a rapid action. Therefore, in operating system, there are two methods namely interrupt and polling for dealing with such events. In both interrupt and polling, the CPU is paused what it is doing and made to execute an essential task. Both interrupt and polling are quite different from each other in several ways. In this article, ... Read More

Buffering and caching, two important concepts in operating systems, are used to increase the data transmission and processing speed. The most basic difference between buffering and caching is that buffering is used to sync the speed of data transmission between sender and receive, while caching is used to increase the speed of data processing by the CPU. In this article, we will discuss the important differences between buffering and caching. But before that, let's have a basic overview of buffering and caching so that it becomes easier to understand the differences between them. What is Buffering? The area in main ... Read More

In operating systems, both deadlock and starvation are unwanted situations that take place when the processes that need a shared resource block each other's progress indefinitely. Both are unwanted situations; however, a deadlock is quite different than a starvation. In this article, we will discuss all the important differences between deadlock and starvation. What is Deadlock? A deadlock is a condition in operating systems in which no process proceeds for execution and waits for resources that have been acquired by some other processes. Thus, in the case of a deadlock condition, the process simply gets blocked. Deadlock is also known ... Read More

A computing system which consists of more than two processors is known as a multiprocessor system. Multiprocessor systems are broadly classified into two categories− loosely coupled multiprocessor system and tightly coupled multiprocessor system. In a loosely coupled multiprocessor system, the degree of coupling between different processor is low; whereas a tightly coupled multiprocessor system has high degree of coupling between different processors of the system. Read this article to find more about loosely coupled and tightly coupled multiprocessor systems and how they are different from each other. What is a Loosely Coupled Multiprocessor System? A multiprocessor which has very ... Read More

In this post, we will understand the difference between a linker and a loader −LinkerThe main function of the linker is to generate executable files.The linker takes the input as the object code which would be generated by a compiler/assembler.The process of linking can be understood as a method to combine different snippets of code in order to obtain executable code.There are two types of linkers available: Linkage Editor and Dynamic Linker.Linker also helps combine all the object modules.Linker is responsible to arrange the objects in the program’s address space.LoaderThe main function of a loader is to load executable files ... Read More

In computer networks, links are the pointers associated with files and directories. These links are of two types: Hard Links and Soft Links. A hard link is a direct reference to a file, while a soft link is a reference by name. Thus, a soft link points to a file by its file name. Read this article to find out more about hard links and soft links and how they are different from each other. Let's start with a basic overview of hard links and soft links so that it becomes easier to differentiate them. What is a Hard Link? The ... Read More