Difference Between Multitasking and Multithreading in OS

Both multitasking and multithreading are the concepts related to the operating system of the computer. One major difference between multitasking and multithreading is that multitasking allows the CPU of computer to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, while multithreading allows the CPU to execute multiple threads of the same process simultaneously.

Read through this article to find out more about Multitasking and Multithreading and how they are different from each other. Let's start with some basics first.

What is Multitasking?

When a single CPU is allowed to execute multiple tasks at the same time, it is called the multitasking. In multitasking, the CPU switches among different tasks at a fast pace so the user can interact with each task simultaneously. Multitasking is a concept of the operating system. A computer system with multitasking operating system allows several users to share the system simultaneously

In multitasking, the CPU switches among the tasks very rapidly so a very less time is required to switch from one user to another. Due to this, it appears to a user that entire system is dedicated to him.

What is Multithreading?

When a single CPU is allowed to execute multiple threads of a single task at the same time, it is called the multithreading. Before discuss about multithreading, we first know what is a thread?. In context of operating system, a thread is a fundamental execution unit which constitute its own program counter, a set of registers, but it shares the data and code of the process to which it belongs.

In simple words, a thread is a small executable unit of a process that can be individually processed by the CPU. When the CPU switches among multiple threads of a single process very rapidly so it appears that the threads are executing simultaneously, is called multithreading.

Difference between Multitasking and Multithreading

The following table highlights the important differences between multitasking and multithreading −

Multitasking	Multithreading
In multitasking, the users are allowed to perform multiple tasks by CPU.	In multithreading, multiple threads are created from a process.
Multitasking involves CPU switching between tasks.	Multithreading involves CPU switching between the threads. Due to this, the power of computer is increased.
In multitasking, the processes share separate memory locations.	In multithreading, the processes are allocated same memory.
Multitasking involves multiprocessing.	Multithreading doesn’t involve multiprocessing.
The CPU is provided to execute many tasks at a time.	The CPU is provided so that multiple threads can be executed at a specific time.
The processes don’t share the same resources.	The multiple threads share the same resources.
Every process is assigned its own resources.	Every process shares the same set of resources with each other
Multitasking is slow in comparison to multithreading.	Multithreading is fast.
The process of termination takes more time	The process of thread termination takes less time.

Conclusion

The purpose of both Multitasking and Multithreading is same, i.e., to improve the CPU utilization and system performance. The most significant difference between multitasking and multithreading is that multitasking involves CPU switching between tasks, whereas multithreading involves CPU switching between the threads.