Time slice is a term used in computer science to refer to the amount of time allocated to a task in a multi-tasking system. The spelling of the word "time slice" is in accordance with English phonetic rules, with the word "time" pronounced /taɪm/ and the word "slice" pronounced /slaɪs/. The IPA phonetic transcription is useful in explaining such spelling, as it informs us that the two words are pronounced separately and that the pronunciation of each word follows standard English pronunciation rules.
A time slice, in computer science, refers to a small unit of time allocated to a process or task in a multitasking operating system. It is a fundamental concept in the field of computing that allows multiple processes or tasks to run concurrently on a single processor or computer system.
In a multitasking system, the central processing unit (CPU) is responsible for executing instructions of various processes. To ensure fairness and efficiency, the CPU divides its processing time into small intervals, known as time slices or quantum. Each process is allocated a specific time slice during which it can execute its instructions.
The duration of a time slice may vary depending on the operating system and its configuration. Typically, it ranges from a few milliseconds to a few microseconds. Once a time slice expires, the CPU switches to the next task in the queue, suspending the previous process temporarily. This switching occurs rapidly, creating an illusion of simultaneous execution for multiple tasks.
Time slicing enables the operating system to share the CPU's resources equitably among different processes, preventing any single process from monopolizing the processor. It promotes multitasking, allowing users to run multiple applications concurrently and ensures a responsive and efficient system performance.
Overall, a time slice is a time quantum allocated to a process by the operating system, enabling multitasking and fair resource allocation on a single processor system.
The term "time slice" combines the words "time" and "slice".
The word "time" originates from the Old English word "tīma", which means "time, period, season, lifetime". It has Germanic roots and is related to the Old Norse word "tīmi" and the Old High German word "zīmī". These words are ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*tīmô".
The word "slice" comes from the Old English word "slīzan", meaning "to split, divide, or cut off". It has Germanic origins and is related to the Old Norse word "slīta" and the Middle Low German word "sliten". These words can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*slītaną".