What is a thread in operating systems?

Answer:

Explanation:

A thread is the smallest unit of execution that can be scheduled and executed by an operating system. Threads exist within processes and share resources such as memory, file handles, and execution context with other threads in the same process.

Threads are often referred to as lightweight processes because they allow parallel execution of tasks within a single process, making efficient use of system resources. Threads improve system responsiveness by enabling multi-tasking within a process.

Operating systems manage both single-threaded and multi-threaded processes. Multi-threading allows for concurrent execution, enabling better performance for tasks like web servers, where multiple client requests are handled simultaneously.